Appearance And Reality In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Macbeth and Hamlet Shakespearean Tragedies “Fair is foul and foul is fair” which happens to be a famous quote from the tragedy Macbeth(I,I,l.10). This line sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the play and the events throughout. It sets the stage for the central theme of appearance versus reality, which stays heavily emphasized throughout the play. Also in Hamlet appearance versus reality remains represented by the main characters in the play. In both the characters stay completely unaware of what could actually be behind the outside picture. The characters think that just because something looks like it represents good it may actually represent bad behind the scenes. The overall idea is that regardless of the way things look and how promising
The Mouse Trap is a play within a play in Hamlet. The Mouse Trap play depicts the idea throughout Hamlet that events may not always go as they seem. The play represents the story of King Hamlet and whether he survives or not as a king or if someone else must take his throne. The ghost also well represents the theme appearance versus reality in the play. The ghost plays on the role of Hamlet’s dead father who is murderer by Claudius. The problem occurs that the ghost may not actually be Hamlet’s dead father but yet a darker spirit just trying to get him to kill the King now. The fact that Hamlet does not know which one to believe creates internal conflict in his thoughts on appearance versus reality. Furthermore, Claudius puts up a big front on the appearance versus reality argument. Claudius appears to be gentle and concerned king. Although he really has dark secrets at risk of being revealed by Hamlet’s weird thoughts and actions. Claudius said "our late dear brother's death"(I,II,l.219) which shows the appearance that he cares about the death when in reality he could not be happier. Appearance versus reality takes on an important role in the play and helps keep the reader on edge and interested in the