“All that glistens is not gold,
Often have you heard that told
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold,
Gilded tombs do worms enfold”
(Merchant of Venice.II.vii) Shakespeare had an extraordinary talent to identify and display themes in a multitude of ways by use of his characters and their context. In the quote above, Shakespeare used the greedy Prince of Morocco as a way to display the theme of appearance vs reality when he was trying to win the beautiful Portia. That theme of appearance vs reality was exhibited in the play Hamlet through the characters of Polonius, Claudius and Hamlet who used their appearance as a means to obtain their own ends. Polonius displayed the theme of appearance vs reality in the play with his remarks toward his daughter Ophelia about Laertes. Polonius appeared to show interest in with …show more content…
In the advice, he made it seem as though he loved Hamlet and really cared about him: “with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart towards you” (I.ii.12-14). So as a way to show his love Claudius was telling him that he needed to move on from mourning his father’s death because it was displaying his unmanliness or vulnerability. He said it showed, “tis unmanly grief, it shows a will most incorrect to heaven, a heart unfortified, a mind impatient, an understanding simple and unschooled.” (I.ii.94-99) However this “pep talk” to Hamlet was set with an aggressive tone that went after more of Hamlet’s character rather than the mourning of his father. Claudius was listing all the imperfections about Hamlet as a way to gain the title as King. If Claudius had wanted the best for Hamlet he would have provided his with words of encouragement or optimism. Instead, Claudius’ likely motive was to demoralize Hamlet’s character and behavior so that he wouldn’t take back the
Often have you heard that told
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold,
Gilded tombs do worms enfold”
(Merchant of Venice.II.vii) Shakespeare had an extraordinary talent to identify and display themes in a multitude of ways by use of his characters and their context. In the quote above, Shakespeare used the greedy Prince of Morocco as a way to display the theme of appearance vs reality when he was trying to win the beautiful Portia. That theme of appearance vs reality was exhibited in the play Hamlet through the characters of Polonius, Claudius and Hamlet who used their appearance as a means to obtain their own ends. Polonius displayed the theme of appearance vs reality in the play with his remarks toward his daughter Ophelia about Laertes. Polonius appeared to show interest in with …show more content…
In the advice, he made it seem as though he loved Hamlet and really cared about him: “with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart towards you” (I.ii.12-14). So as a way to show his love Claudius was telling him that he needed to move on from mourning his father’s death because it was displaying his unmanliness or vulnerability. He said it showed, “tis unmanly grief, it shows a will most incorrect to heaven, a heart unfortified, a mind impatient, an understanding simple and unschooled.” (I.ii.94-99) However this “pep talk” to Hamlet was set with an aggressive tone that went after more of Hamlet’s character rather than the mourning of his father. Claudius was listing all the imperfections about Hamlet as a way to gain the title as King. If Claudius had wanted the best for Hamlet he would have provided his with words of encouragement or optimism. Instead, Claudius’ likely motive was to demoralize Hamlet’s character and behavior so that he wouldn’t take back the