Appearance vs Reality in Hamlet
James 1
Brittany James
Ms. Lagios
ENG 4U1
May 23, 2013
The Masks of Hamlet
“Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance.” – English Proverb. A recurring theme in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is appearance versus reality. Many characters in the play pretend to be someone they are not, specifically Polonius, Hamlet and Claudius. They appear to be different than their true selves and deceive others for their own personal gain. These characters have two faces; one is the one the present to the public. It is usually that of a noble, kind, and polite person. The second face is how the character is in reality and this face reveals what their true thoughts and feelings are.
Polonius appears to be a loving, caring and honest father. He seems as if he is a man who deeply loves and cares for his son, Laertes. In act one, scene three, Polonius gives his son what seems like heart-felt advice, but in reality it is rehearsed and hollow. The only reason Polonius gave his son this advice was to appear as a good and caring father, not to actually be one:
And borrowing (dulls the) edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
James 2
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee. (Act 1, Sc 3, L 83-87).
Polonius also appears to be a confident and trusting father by blessing his son, Laertes’s, departure. When really Polonius secretively sends his servant Reynaldo to follow his son and spy on him: “You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,/ Before you visit him, to make inquire to make inquire/ Of his behaviour./”(Act 2, Sc 1, L 3-5). Sending a spy to watch Laertes shows Polonius’s lack of trust for anyone, not even trusting his own son. Also, Polonius deceives his own daughter in order to keep up with his act as a good, honest, and loving father, just watching out
Brittany James
Ms. Lagios
ENG 4U1
May 23, 2013
The Masks of Hamlet
“Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance.” – English Proverb. A recurring theme in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is appearance versus reality. Many characters in the play pretend to be someone they are not, specifically Polonius, Hamlet and Claudius. They appear to be different than their true selves and deceive others for their own personal gain. These characters have two faces; one is the one the present to the public. It is usually that of a noble, kind, and polite person. The second face is how the character is in reality and this face reveals what their true thoughts and feelings are.
Polonius appears to be a loving, caring and honest father. He seems as if he is a man who deeply loves and cares for his son, Laertes. In act one, scene three, Polonius gives his son what seems like heart-felt advice, but in reality it is rehearsed and hollow. The only reason Polonius gave his son this advice was to appear as a good and caring father, not to actually be one:
And borrowing (dulls the) edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
James 2
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee. (Act 1, Sc 3, L 83-87).
Polonius also appears to be a confident and trusting father by blessing his son, Laertes’s, departure. When really Polonius secretively sends his servant Reynaldo to follow his son and spy on him: “You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,/ Before you visit him, to make inquire to make inquire/ Of his behaviour./”(Act 2, Sc 1, L 3-5). Sending a spy to watch Laertes shows Polonius’s lack of trust for anyone, not even trusting his own son. Also, Polonius deceives his own daughter in order to keep up with his act as a good, honest, and loving father, just watching out