Theme Of Appearance Vs Reality In Hamlet

Intro: Dr. Robert Walton states in his analysis of the work that individuals "know that their friends, and even lovers, may become false as they try to please parents and employers..." With this quote, he expresses the chicanery of everyday life, an idea that is repeatedly presented in the story of Hamlet. The characters in the piece constantly use deception, spying, and plots of revenge to try and figure out the "falsity" in what others are thinking contrasting what they are "pretending" to think.
Thesis: Throughout the play, all of the main characters in Hamlet exemplify the recurring motifs of deceit and appearance versus reality irony - the two thematic items that dictate the central issue in the play. Hamlet, however, is the best example of the thematic center of the piece, evident in many conflictual encounters throughout the plot.
In reality, Hamlet is distraught over the death of his father and the act of infidelity when his mother remarries his Uncle, the man who killed his father. In an attempt to hide his revenge plot against his Uncle, King Claudius, for murder, he acts with antic disposition towards all around him. His act is successful and Claudius, his mother Gertrude, and Polonius all draw the conclusion that he is mad with love for Ophelia. In reality, his manipulation is the only thing behind it, and he tells his mother their conclusions were not true before killing Polonius in "" (). Horatio is the only character that knows the true reason behind his apparent madness and Hamlet uses him to help his revenge plot. Ironically, in the end, Horatio is the only character that