Examine the ways in which Shakespeare makes use of deception and acting in "Hamlet".

Examine the ways in which Shakespeare makes use of deception and acting in "Hamlet".

Annotations:

• Deception and pretense are major themes in Shakespeare's revenge tragedy 'Hamlet'. Shakespeare uses the duality of characters, to develop the theme of madness in Hamlet's character, the betrayal ny Rosencratz and Guildenstern and the masks of Polonious and Claudius, demostrating that not only is their "something rotten in the state of Denmark" but their is also something rotten in human nature. 
• In conclusion, Shakespeare masterfully presents the theme of deception through various characters in Hamlet, suggesting the negative outcome of deception. However, it seems Shakespeare is saying something about human nature and how we are inherently full of deception, therefore allowing the audience to ponder their realities. 

1. Hamlet's madness

   Annotations:

   • The central act of deceit in the play is Hamlet's madness, which he uses in order to uncover the truth about his father's murder. Hamlet makes it clear to Horatio and Marcellus that he is to put on "an anti-disposition", the assonance of "i" creating a powerful rhythm in the statement, therefore emphasising these words as well as Hamlet's determination to cunningly act mad.  Although Hamlet claims that his madness is an act, his actions in some parts of the play present true madness. This is best seen through Gerturde's observation that Hamlet "...bend[s] [his] eye on vacancy/ and with the incorporal air [does] hold discourse..." The critic Samuel Jackson seems unconveinced with the argument that Hamlet was truly mad as he states that “Of the feigned madness of Hamlet there appears no adequate cause..", while A.C.Bradley supports the argument that Hamlet's madness did become real as he argues that "Hamlet's was no more common depression of spirits."Shakespeare therefore seems to suggest that the lines of reality and deceit are blurred as seemingly lies can become the truth.
   • Shakespeare's use of language throughout the play reinforces the theme of deception. Hamlet is a master of word play, punning even when insane, which calls into question the double meaning of language in the play. For example, Hamlet calls Polonius a "fishmonger" suggesting that Polonius is deceitful as this implies something smells fishy. Furthermore, when he encounters Gertrude, despite his supposed madness, Hamlet still makes bold claims against is mother's incestious marriage, comparing her bed to a "nasty sty" to highlight his disgust and unease with his mother's marriage to Claudius. Hamlet's anger towards his mother for her marriage, despite his madness has been seen by pyschoanalists as the Odepus Complex, as suggested by Ernest Jones who says "...where as the murder of his father evokes in him indignation and a plain recognition of his obvious duty to avenge it, his mother's guilty conduct awakens in him the intensest horror" 
2. Rosencratz and Guildenstern

   Annotations:

   • Rosencratz and Guildenstern are two faced characters and that also partake in the theme of lies and deciet. The two men are described to the people to whom Hamlet "adheres", and yet together with Claudius they plot against Hamlet in order to promote their own political/social gain. Together with Hamlet they plot "by letters conguring to that effect, the present death of Hamlet. As defined by the critic Marilyn French "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sacrifice the bond of human friendship to a social propriety". However, it is Rocencratz and Guildenstern that taste the poison of their own deceit, as through their plotting they find themselves dead. Through their death, Shakespeare suggests the negative consequences of pretense and deception. This is an idea that recurs at the end of the novel, when a blood bath leaves only Horatio alive while Hamlet, Laertes, Claudius and Gertrude die. Shakespeare implies a doomed ending for those who live a life filled with deception,while for the truthful and upright, only peace and joy. The culmination of this idea is seen through Hamlet's monologue to Horatio as he dies, in which he states "...I am dead. Thou livest." The juxtaposition of "dead" and "livest" highlights the contrast between the consequences of deception and the consequences of truthfulness/honesty. Seemingly deception leads to death and pain.   
3. Claudius

   Annotations:

   • Deception is further portrayed through Claudius, who ecumes a kingly presence when with the people of the court, but in the soliloquy in Act 3 confirms Hamlet's suspicion of him, revealing a different aspect to his character. By exclaiming "O wretched state! O bosom black as death!", Claudius is embracing emotions that have been suppressed in the presence of others. Claudius can therefore be seen to embrace the relationship of the court by putting in a mask. However, the critic David Bevington has presented a different view of Claudius, suggesting that he "is a prisoner of circumstance, burdened with a guilty responsibility, unable to rid himself of his of his enemy.." This sympathetic view of Claudius suggests that his deception and his use of a mask s not a matter of choice by necessity, in order to deal with his guilty conscience.  Caudius' inner desire and needs (for power and for Gertrude) can only be accomplished through delusion and trickery. Shakespeare therefore suggests that in society, people customarily put on facades to shield themselves from others.