“Seems madam, I no not seems”. Acting and pretense are recurring themes in William Shakespeare’s most renowned play Hamlet. The play asks what is real and what is a mere image. It consistently questions truth and how it can be tested, blending the lines between lies and fiction. The similarities between truth and lies are demonstrated in the play, essentially proving that they can be intertwined. Acting and pretense are shown through Reynaldo’s spying, Ophelia and Hamlet’s love, and Hamlet’s sanity.
The theme of acting and pretense is evident when Reynaldo is asked to spy on Laertes by Polonius. Polonius asks Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris to find out what type of behavior Laertes is engaging in. In this conversation he is told
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To start, the theme of acting and pretense is shown through Hamlet and Ophelia’s love. To explain, initially Hamlet seemed to love Ophelia and expressed this love through writing, “Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love” (Act II, scene II, lines 107-110) .In this letter that Hamlet writes to Ophelia he is essentially saying that she can doubt everything but that he loves her. It expresses deep love for Ophelia; however, other passages later in the play make one question if this love is true. In contrast, later in the play Ophelia is told by Polonius that she must break up with Hamlet and when she attempts to do so, Hamlet is condescending to her. When Ophelia attempts to give their love letters back to Hamlet he responds by explicitly stating that he never loved her and that she should have never believed he did. ( Act III, Scene I, lines 119-121). This passage clearly contrasts what is written in the love letter and again, makes one question if Hamlet loves Ophelia or if he is just acting. The last expression of love we see from Hamlet in the duration of the play is at Ophelia’s funeral. During this time we see Laertes and Hamlet fight in Ophelia’s grave concerning who loves her more, he professes deep love for her and even says he loves her so intensely he would eat a crocodile for her (Act 5, scene I, lines 255-256). All of …show more content…
Near the beginning of the play it is only made apparent to Hamlet’s friends and the audience that Hamlet intents to put on an “antic disposition” to conceal his plan to murder Claudius. After visiting Old Hamlet’s ghost and learning about the way in which is father was murdered, he warns Marcellus and Bernardo that he will now be acting crazy (Act 1, scene 5, lines 173-175). This demonstrates the theme of acting versus pretense because in this specific instance we see Hamlet as a mentally stable person who simply intents to act a certain way to execute his plan. In addition, in later scenes, one starts to question Hamlet’s mental state through his behaviour towards others. To explain, Hamlet’s mental state is put into question when the ghost appears in Act III during his discussion with Gertrude. While Hamlet is arguing with Gertrude over her choice in men, essentially saying that Claudius is inferior to Old Hamlet the ghost appears. This moment demonstrates Hamlet’s insanity because in prior scenes others such as Horatio and the watchmen were able to see the ghost. Now, in contrast, Gertrude was not able to see the ghost and states that he is going mad. (guilty?) Therefore, Hamlet’s mad brings forth the question of whether Hamlet is acting or if he is truly insane. Other Characters in the play state their belief that Hamlet is not actually crazy. When Hamlet speaks to Polonius in Act II he very much mirrors his speech,
He exuded different emotions at different moments in the play that coincide to the events occurring at that time. To explain, at Ophelia’s funeral (act V, scene I) the actor successfully expressed that Hamlet had a deep love for Ophelia. This performance is made believable though his tone of voice as he is loudly exclaiming his love for Ophelia and through his actions while he is being held back by two other men so he will not continue to fight with Laertes. Another example of how the actors interpreted their roles is when Ophelia gave Hamlet their love letters back. That scene demonstrates that Kate Winslet( Ophelia) interpreted the role of Ophelia as a realistic and typical girlfriend. Her interpretation of the role changes when Polonius is murdered by Hamlet, then she interprets the role of Ophelia as a mentally ill grief stricken and heart-broken women. I believe that her performance as such was believable because she behaved in such ways that real mentally ill persons do ( e.g
Hamlet makes use of the idea of theatrical performance through characters presenting themselves falsely to others – from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet to gain favor with the King, to Hamlet himself playing the part of a madman – and through the play within the play, The Mousetrap. This essay will discuss the ways in which Hamlet explores the idea of theatrical performance, ‘acting’, through analysis of the characters and the ‘roles’ they adopt, specifically that of Hamlet and Claudius. The idea, or the theme of theatrical performance is not an uncommon literary element of Shakespearean works, the most famous of which to encompass this idea being As You Like It. This essay will also briefly explore the ways in which Hamlet reminds its audience of the stark difference between daily life and dramatization of life in the theatre.
The Love of Ophelia It is never easy to see into a person’s heart and find their true emotions, especially when their feelings are intentionally masked to give off a different impression. Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, attempts to mask specific emotions throughout the play. He tries to give off the impression that he is insane when he is near his murderous uncle and other characters because he doesn’t want them to suspect his plan of revenge. However, he silently expresses his love towards the sweet Ophelia, his girlfriend.
Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, must seek revenge for the murder of his father. Hamlet decides to portray an act of insanity, as part of his plan to murder Claudius. Throughout the play, Hamlet becomes more and more believable in his act, even convincing his mother that he is crazy. However, through his thoughts, and actions, the reader can see that he is in fact putting up an act, he is simply simulating insanity to help fulfil his fathers duty of revenge. Throughout the play, Hamlet shows that he understands real from fake, right from wrong and his enemies from his friends. Even in his madness, he retorts and is clever in his speech and has full understanding of what if going on around him. Most importantly, Hamlet does not think like that of a person who is mad. Hamlet decides to portray an act of insanity, as part of his plan to seek revenge for his fathers murder.
Misleading instances in the play occur frequently.The moment when the Ghost tells Hamlet that his death was not accidental and that he was poisoned by Claudius is what starts the trail of lies and murder in the play, ( I;v;74-77 ) "Thus I was sleeping by a brother’s hand…/…/ cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, unhouseled, disappointed, unaveled." Until the night of the "Mouse trap", Hamlet still has some doubt in his mind about the Ghosts words. As soon as the king reacts negatively to the plot, Hamlet is one hundred percent sure that Clauduis was deceiving the whole country about Old Hamlet’s death; (III ;ii ;267) "O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s words for a thousand pound. Didst perceive?" Hamlet witnesses the king storming out of the play, showing he was affected by the death of the player king, seeing as how the he died the same way as his brother. It is also apparent that Hamlet is out to mislead the general public by putting on a false face. His "antic disposition" allowes him to act without consequence. He is able to appear mad when it is convenient for him, and this allowes him not to raise any suspicion about his actions, ( I; v; 171-172 ) "As I perchase hereafter shall think meet to put on an antic disposition on."
The Polonius, when we know, says that “ there is trick ” in Hamlet's madness (II, ii, 205). And Hamlet says to his mother that “ essentially I am not in the madness,/, But madman in the art ” ( III, iv, 189-90). In fact, Hamlet's madness is more “ as madman ” when he left his unconscious mind. On the other hand, he can seem “ not so crazy ” “ or madman for the plan ” “ or madman in the art ” when he is controlled by his conscious mind, And even when he is faced by his Superego (his father), or other figures Hamlet truly does not show any sign of the madness when he hears to Horatio, Marcellus and the story of Bernado about ghost. In fact, he is quite prudent to say to his friends what was happened between him and the ghost , and quite discreetly to force them to swear that they will not reveal anything of what they have seen. In other scenes when Hamlet finds other figures ...
At the start of the play, Hamlet is depressed and feels lost over the death of his father. He no longer has trust or respect for his mother and contemplates suicide. Through Claudius killing Hamlet’s father, Hamlet is already affected negatively. It is arguable that Hamlet already began to go crazy as soon as the death of his father occurred. When Hamlet finally meets his father’s ghost he discovers the truth and immediately decides to seek vengeance on his uncle. While the ghost tells Hamlet “Taint not thy mind” (Hamlet: I.v.92). It is arguable that Hamlet’s antic disposition is actually a reflection on is lunacy. While Hamlet pretends to be mentally unstable he harrasses Ophelia in her private closet with “...his knees knocking each other;/ And with a look so piteous in purport/ As if he had been loosèd out of hell/ To speak of horrors” (Hamlet: II.i.81). Hamlet’s father’s murder has sent him into shock, and he is realizing that he must take action and seek revenge on his poisonous and evil uncle. The poison of revenge starts to plague its royalty, and Hamlet’s attitude is changed from being depressed and suicidal, to angry and insane “Oh, from this/ time forth,/ My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Hamlet: IV.iv.65). Hamlet decides to only
Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” is full of intrigue. Is there really a ghost? Does Hamlet truly go mad? And where in the world did the pirates come from? Yet, even with all these questions, the most compelling is whether Hamlet truly loves Ophelia. One of the most iconic romantic relationship ever to be penned, and the love is still questionable. Does he really love her? Before the argument can be continued, the definition of romantic love which is used throughout must first be defined. It is a simple beauty— Love is caring for someone more than yourself. If held to this standard, Hamlet does not truly love Ophelia by the end of the play, though he may have loved her a some point. By the end of the play, where once existed some form of love for
As the reader, we are to know that Hamlet is only acting crazy so that when he kills Claudius his insanity can be to blame. Also, when Hamlet talks to the actors that will perform the play about his father's death, he acts completely crazy. He says bizarre things and acts not like himself when he is in front of everyone. To the characters they only see him being crazy, but as the reader we see Hamlet talking to Horatio making complete sense. We know that Hamlet was just pretending because he could act crazy then completely know what was going on around him with in the next minute.
Throughout the Shakespearian play, Hamlet, the main character is given the overwhelming responsibility of avenging his father’s "foul and most unnatural murder" (I.iv.36). Such a burden can slowly drive a man off the deep end psychologically. Because of this, Hamlet’s disposition is extremely inconsistent and erratic throughout the play. At times he shows signs of uncontrollable insanity. Whenever he interacts with the characters he is wild, crazy, and plays a fool. At other times, he exemplifies intelligence and method in his madness. In instances when he is alone or with Horatio, he is civilized and sane. Hamlet goes through different stages of insanity throughout the story, but his neurotic and skeptical personality amplifies his persona of seeming insane to the other characters. Hamlet comes up with the idea to fake madness in the beginning of the play in order to confuse his enemies. However, for Hamlet to fulfill his duty of getting revenge, he must be totally sane. Hamlet’s intellectual brilliance make it seem too impossible for him to actually be mad, for to be insane means that one is irrational and without any sense. When one is irrational, one is not governed by or according to reason. So, Hamlet is only acting mad in order to plan his revenge on Claudius.
Hamlet’s revenge mission begins when he is visited by his father’s ghost who commands “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (Shakespeare 1.5.31) after his father recounts the cause of his murder. From this point on, Hamlet begins to act mad in order to put his revenge mission into action. In fact, pretending that he has gone mental is all part of Hamlet’s plan to ultimately murder King Claudius. Furthermore, “Hamlet 's madness is an act of deception, concocted to draw attention away from his suspicious activities as he tries to gather evidence against Claudius…” (Mabillard). Therefore, Hamlet feigns a mental disorder so that he can prove that King Claudius is guilty and can therefore murder King Claudius. Hamlet seeks his revenge on the behalf of someone else, unlike Laertes who seeks revenge for himself. Nevertheless, Hamlet’s act of madness causes everyone around him to see him as having gone insane. Hamlet’s false insanity successfully convinces everyone that they should not worry about him because of his mental state and they are not concerned about him. Although few people concern themselves with Hamlet, King Claudius does after what King Claudius had observed in Act 3, Scene 2. Hamlet instructs the actors in a play that everyone is going to see to reenact the murder of King Hamlet. While that play is taking place, he is watching
For being considered one of the greatest English plays ever written, very little action actually occurs in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The play is, instead, more focused on the progressing psychological state of its protagonist, after whom the play is name, and his consequent inaction. It is because of this masterpiece of a character that this play is so widely discussed and debated. Hamlet’s generality, his vagueness, his supposed madness, his passion, his hesitation, and his contradictions have puzzled readers, scholars, and actors for centuries. In this paper I will attempt to dissect this beautiful enigma of a character to show that Hamlet is much more self-aware than many people give him credit for and that he recognizes that he is an actor in the theatre of life. He understands and accepts the role he is given, he studies it carefully and thoughtfully, he rehearses and even converses with fellow actors, and he gives one final performance.
Many would perceive madness and corruption to play the most influential role in Hamlet. However, it could be argued that the central theme in the tragedy is Shakespeare's presentation of actors and acting and the way it acts as a framework on which madness and corruption are built. Shakespeare manifests the theme of actors and acting in the disassembly of his characters, the façades that the individuals assume and the presentation of the `play within a play'. This intertwined pretence allows certain characters to manipulate the actions and thoughts of others. For this reason, it could be perceived that Shakespeare views the `Elsinorean' tragedy as one great puppet show, "I could see the puppets dallying".
This final act of the play surely sums up the love that Hamlet had for Ophelia. Dramatically, Hamlet jumps into the grave of Ophelia. Distraught with grief for her, Hamlet confronts her brother, Laertes, telling him that he loved her even more than a brother loves a sister. Hamlet cries out to Laertes “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum” (Shakespeare, Act IV, scene I, lines 285-287). Although it was too late for Ophelia to hear Hamlet’s true feelings expressed once again, this does show that Hamlet’s love was not madness, but genuine affection. Pouring out his heartfelt emotions, Hamlet says he loved her so much he would do anything for
Rosenberg, Marvin. “Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat.” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.