Hamlet: Hamlet The Idealist

Hamlet: Hamlet The Idealist

In Hamlet, Elsinore is a society which people are seen acting in a

deceitful manner in order to gain personal measures and prestige. These people

mask their true in intentions to acquire selfish desires. In doing so they

develop a theme of the discrepancy between the way things appear and their true

realities. Hamlet, on the other hand, is an honest, moral individual trapped in

this deceitful society. Hamlet is faced with the dilemma to either lower

himself to their level by utilizing deception, or leave wrongs unrighted by

remaining true to himself. In Hamlet, the theme of appearance versus reality is

prevalent in Hamlet's decision between his morals and his father as he decides

to utilize the deceit of his society, starts recognizing it in others and

finally in using it to avenge his father.

When Hamlet is introduced he is seen acting as he feels and this is what

prevents him from repaying in kind for his father's murder. Hamlet grieves over

the loss of his father so long and intensely that no one understands, for

Gertrude and Claudius tell him he needs to move on like they have done, yet

Hamlet can't understand this. His actions are reflections of his true feelings

while the rest of his peers seem to be ignoring their grief. When Hamlet finds

out that he is supposed to kill Claudius for his father he becomes distraught.

This is because Hamlet's morals won't allow him to kill even if it releases Old

Hamlet from his purgatory. He later realizes that he must start appearing

differently than usual in order to carry out his father's word. Hamlet decides

to put on an "antic disposition" and in doing so has started becoming deceitful.

He is trying to mask his true feelings in order to prepare himself for his

dilemma.

When Hamlet starts being deceitful he starts to recognize the deceit in

others and how they make themselves appear differently from their realities.

Hamlets decision to put on an "antic disposition" was not honest to himself but

he felt that he must appear differently than he feels to fulfill his needs.

Hamlet first recognizes the deceit in Claudius after his father visits.

Claudius committed the sin of fratricide (especially horrendous in this

Christian society); but was now enjoying the fruits of his sin at the cost of

his community. He tricked Elsinore into thinking he was a good king who stepped

in to save the kingdom, yet in reality he was the cause of all the trouble.

Claudius knew he had done wrong, for he later laments his action, but was now