Thursday, November 14, 2019
Hamlet Spying And Deception :: essays research papers
Who’s there?'; (1,I,1), is the opening line of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, a question asked by a soldier on guard duty. A sentinel starting his midnight shift normally expects to relieve his fellow sentry as usual; yet he still wonders and challenges the identity of his fellow sentry, because he wonders if it may be someone spying. The question displays that there is a need to assure that one is not being deceived. Spying and deception introduce the play and continue to dominate the play, contributing to a major theme of Hamlet. The theme of ‘appearance versus reality'; is developed through the deception and spying in the play.      The tone of deception is initiated by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, now, the bestial King of Denmark. Claudius’ murderous actions are revealed by Old Hamlet’s ghost. The visitations explain the background to Denmark’s deception. “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown'; (1,V,39-40). The first speech by Claudius is well organized and is clever enough to conceal his deadly sin which was committed through ambition and possibly lust:                     Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast.           With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-           A witched wit, and gifts that have the power           So to seduce! - won to his shameful lust           The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. (1,V,42-46) On more than one occasion Claudius sends Rosencrants and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet. Although they are supposed to be Hamlet’s schoolmates, Claudius uses them as pawns in his attempt to reveal what Hamlet is doing. Claudius gets Rosencrants and Guildenstern to accompany Hamlet on his way to be killed. Although Claudius states that he loves Hamlet, he arranges for Hamlet to be killed in England. When his original plan is unsuccessful, he schemes a trap for Hamlet to fall into. The guilt from Claudius’ deception and spying eventually builds up on him:                     O ‘tis too true.           How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience           The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plast’ring art,           Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it           Than is my deed to my most painted word.           O heavy burden!     (3,I,49-53) Claudius obtains the crown by corruption and in doing so he is the beginning of the eventual tragedy.      Polonius has many deceptive roles in the play, as well as some warnings concerning this deceit. At first he warns Laertes, who is on his way to school, to trust no one. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be,/ For loan oft loses both itself and friend,/And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.'; (1,III,75-77). He then warns Ophelia, his daughter, of the trickery Hamlet plays
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