Duality In Hamlet

Shakespeare’s masterfully written tragedy, Hamlet, is wrought with tragedy and themes of revenge, but it is equally notable for the deception and lies that the players have towards each other. Throughout the play, characters hatch plans and spy on each other, creating a high tension mood. Shakespeare does this in order to add dramatic tension, but also to convey the human truth that everyone lies. Character development, play structure and the nature of the play are used to show how the only way to achieve truth is to accept the lies of others.

Shakespeare uses duality of characters extensively in order to reveal the deceitful dynamics at play throughout this play. As Tom Stoppard writes in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, these pairs

Acting as a foil to the pretend insanity of Hamlet is Ophelia’s true madness, which drives her to suicide. Her madness can be directly traced to

Hamlet, as Claudius remarks that it is because Ophelia is “divided from herself and her true judgment” that she loses her mind (IV.5.92). That division was clearly caused by Hamlet’s actions and implies that the line between truth and lies is not very clear.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are despised by Hamlet as two-faced ignorant fools, but their dual character reveals confusion that reveals Hamlet to be victim of his own prejudices.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are never seen apart from each other and take a very minor role as courtiers, but Hamlet despises them for colluding with Claudius and acting as spies. However, this accusation is unfounded, particularly because the audience never perceive the two beyond

“[making] our presence and our practices/Pleasant and helpful to him!” (II.2.40) Therefore,

Hamlet’s indigenous remark of “you cannot play upon me” is Hamlet deceiving himself as to the nature of the characters (III.2.402). The two innocent – although hopelessly confused