Hamlet Spying And Deception :: essays research papers

Who&8217s there? (1,I,1), is the opening gentle wind of William Shakespeare&8217s play hamlet, a questionasked by a spend on guard duty. A sentinel starting his midnight shift normally expects torelieve his fellow sentry as usual yet he still wonders and challenges the identity of his fellowsentry, because he wonders if it may be psyche spying. The question displays that there is aneed to assure that one is non being deceived. Spying and deception introduce the play andcontinue to look out on the play, contributing to a major theme of Hamlet. The theme of&8216appearance versus reality is developed through the deception and spying in the play.The tone of deception is initiated by Hamlet&8217s uncle, Claudius, now, the bestial King ofDenmark. Claudius&8217 murderous actions are revealed by Old Hamlet&8217s ghost. The visitationsexplain the background to Denmark&8217s deception. &8220The snake that did sting thy father&8217slife/Now wears his crown (1,V,39-40). The first wrang le by Claudius is well organized and isclever enough to conceal his subtle sin which was committed through ambition and possiblylustAy, that incestuous, that elongate beast.With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-A witched wit, and gifts that have the powerSo to rack up - won to his shameful lustThe will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. (1,V,42-46)On more than than one occasion Claudius sends Rosencrants and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet. Although they are supposed to be Hamlet&8217s schoolmates, Claudius uses them as pawns in hisattempt to reveal what Hamlet is doing. Claudius gets Rosencrants and Guildenstern toaccompany Hamlet on his way to be killed. Although Claudius states that he loves Hamlet, hearranges for Hamlet to be killed in England. When his original plan is unsuccessful, he schemesa trap for Hamlet to fall into. The guilt from Claudius&8217 deception and spying at last buildsup on himO &8216tis too true.How smart a whip that speech doth give my consci enceThe harlot&8217s cheek, beautied with plast&8217ring art,Is non more ugly to the thing that helps itThan 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 eventualtragedy.Polonius has many deceptive roles in the play, as well as some warnings concerning thisdeceit. At first he warns Laertes, who is on his way to school, to trust no one. &8220Neither aborrower nor a lender be,/ For loan oft loses both itself and friend,/And borrowing dulls the edgeof husbandry. (1,III,75-77). He thusly warns Ophelia, his daughter, of the trickery Hamlet plays