Hamlet Deception Research Paper

Deception is a term that, perhaps ironically, is not deceptive. It encompasses lies and trickery, dishonesty and treachery, even the high charge of treason. It is one of the most evil things that exists, so of course it is in basic human nature, and no small part of it. Overcoming it is a feat that has been failed by many a great man, and anybody might be conspiring against anyone else at any given time. It cannot be wholly eliminated, nor should it be, for the sake of free will. Deception plays a massive part in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, for obvious reasons. Without the play’s characters deceiving one another on a constant basis, Hamlet would have no plot. Tragedies, and in particular Hamlet, depend on, and are written around, those who deceive. In the beginning of the story, King Hamlet is killed by his treacherous brother Claudius, who then, in essence, fooled Denmark’s people by becoming the next king, and marrying Queen Gertrude. Claudius then uses deceit as a means of maintaining his newly acquired status and power, covering up his motives and
In the Bible, it is a serpent that deceives Eve, convincing her to disobey God’s commandment that herself and Adam not eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Everybody knows this, surely, but what a vast majority of people do not know is that deception is not always seen as evil. In ancient Norse mythology, aptitude in the art of trickery was seen as a good thing, as a mental strength. Even the Norse god Thor, more known for his upfront dealings, engaged in tricking enemies, in one instance dressing as a woman to get his hammer back. It would appear that the ancient Norse did strongly believe that the ends would justify the means, which may come as a surprise given their reputation as warriors, not necessarily the type to fool