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Hamlet Lies And Deception Research Paper

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Hamlet Lies And Deception Research Paper
Bob

Ms.ZZ

ENG-4U

December, 06th, 2013

Corrupting forces of Deception

Lies and deception lead to many actions that have disastrous consequences. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the theme of lies and deception is very significant to the plot. Hamlet is a play about the revenge of a the protagonist, the prince whose late father's ghost visits him. Hamlet is told by his fathers ghost that the king was murdered by Claudius, Hamlets uncle in order to inherit the throne and also married Hamlet's mother– the Queen. When Hamlet is told that his father was killed by his uncle he is determined to avenge his fathers death but also wants to make sure that Claudius indeed committed this act of murder by staging a play, "The Murder of Gonzago". This …show more content…
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are told by Claudius to spy on Hamlet, they "..draw him on to pleasures and to gather...Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus" (II.ii.15). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betray Hamlet by agreeing to spy on Hamlet to please their King, Claudius which allow deception to corrupt their friendship. Hamlet tells his mother "..my two schoolfellows,/Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd.." (III.iv.204-205). This shows that Hamlet is no longer fooled by their false friendship and also shows the corruptive force of deception. Hamlet describes them as, "a sponge that soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards, his authorities."(IV,II,2) Hamlet knows that they are loyal to the king and for this reason he keeps his "antic disposition" when he is around them. Hamlet finds the letter ordering his own execution and switches the letter with one he forged telling England to execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet doesn’t feel guilty of this act because he believes they are guilty by association by working with Claudius, and leads them to their deaths which is caused by Hamlets deception towards
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