William Shakespeare is known for creating interesting characters that are complex, that have two sides; their inner selves and outer selves differ. Hamlet is a prime example of how Shakespeare uses Illusion versus reality in his characters. Claudius, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are all characters that show two sides to their character. Claudius, the king of Denmark is an example of how illusion versus reality can be seen. In 1.2, he acts as though he really cares for his brother while he grieves over his death. In his first speech to his new acquired court, “and that it is us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe” (1.2.2-4). The same grievances are shown in when Claudius
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At the beginning of the play Claudius seems happy about his marriage to Gertrude. He expresses in his soliloquy that Gertrude was one of the reasons for killing his own brother, “Of those effects for which I did murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen” (3.3.58-9). However, in the last scene of Laertes and Hamlet’s fight He poisons Hamlet’s drink but does nothing to prevent Gertrude from drinking it. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both appear to be Hamlet’s friends; “My honour’d lord! My most dear lord!” (2.2.240-1) but in reality they both were working with Claudius to murder Hamlet. Lucky for Hamlet he realizes this and expresses is distrust to the pair, “[There’s two letters sealed; and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged” (3.4.225-6) Hamlet's love for Ophelia also has two different sides. Hamlet once said, “ You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so <inoculate> our old stock but we shall relish of it. I have loved you not” (3.1.127-9). After her death Hamlet reveals his true feelings by saying, "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?”
At the beginning of the play Claudius seems happy about his marriage to Gertrude. He expresses in his soliloquy that Gertrude was one of the reasons for killing his own brother, “Of those effects for which I did murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen” (3.3.58-9). However, in the last scene of Laertes and Hamlet’s fight He poisons Hamlet’s drink but does nothing to prevent Gertrude from drinking it. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both appear to be Hamlet’s friends; “My honour’d lord! My most dear lord!” (2.2.240-1) but in reality they both were working with Claudius to murder Hamlet. Lucky for Hamlet he realizes this and expresses is distrust to the pair, “[There’s two letters sealed; and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged” (3.4.225-6) Hamlet's love for Ophelia also has two different sides. Hamlet once said, “ You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so <inoculate> our old stock but we shall relish of it. I have loved you not” (3.1.127-9). After her death Hamlet reveals his true feelings by saying, "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?”