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Do you agree that deception is one of the themes in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"? Posted by brightensky on Aug 27, 2008. |
Hamlet Group
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Deception is definitely a theme in "Hamlet". There is deception among many of the characters and in many of the scenes beginning with the first act, second scene when Claudius addresses the court. He is deceiving people because he killed his brother, but he acts like it was an unfortunate accident. Hamlet tells Horatio in Act 1, sc. 5 that he is going to act like he is insane, thus deceiving people. The character of Polonius practices one deception after another. In Act 2, sc. 2, he proposes to the king and queen that he deceive Hamlet to pull out of Hamlet what is bothering him (Polonius swears it is unrequited love for Ophelia). When Polonius hides behind the arras in Act 3, sc. 4, his deception leads to his death. In Act 2, sc. 2, Claudius and Gertrude ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to deceive Hamlet about their real purpose in visiting Hamlet. The purpose of the play within the play is to deceive Claudius. Hamlet wants to see if he reacts to the scene enacting the murder of Hamlet's father. In Act 5, sc. 2, Laertes and Claudius deceive Hamlet with the sword fight by having a poisoned and sharpened sword as well as poisoned wine. There is deception throughout the play. Posted by luannw on Aug 27, 2008. |
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Certainly, all this deception is a large part of what is "rotten in the state of Denmark." While that line originally refers to Claudius' deception, it can expand to include all of the subterfuge perpetrated throughout the play (as detailed in the above answer). Posted by playsthething on Aug 27, 2008. |
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You might want to visit our free, online lessons on Hamlet which address your question. Just go to the Lit101 course on Hamlet. There you can view complete discussions of each scene, browse our questions and answers or contribute questions on your own and receive answers. Thank you for using eNotes!
Posted by jamie-wheeler on Aug 27, 2008. |
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Luannw has named lots of them already. But maybe the big one for me is Hamlet's 'antic disposition'. Several times in the play Hamlet warns people that he is will pretend to be mad. If it is a deception, then he takes it a long way, perhaps he deceives himself about how unstable he has become. But Hamlet's 'pretend' lunacy is a big part of the play's deception theme. Here's a few randomish quotes, (the devil's deceit) The spirit that I have seen (women's deceit...) I have heard of your paintings too, well enough. God (faking grief...) Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not seems. Posted by frizzyperm on Sep 1, 2008. |
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This really helped out with my homework! i really thank you all for this helpful information! =] Posted by charbow on Mar 1, 2009. |

