As a result of hearing this news, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent to spy on Hamlet from the Kings orders. We see Claudius’s skill in deception, and how he uses his charming side. He happily extends his hospitality to them, and makes it seem he’s hiring them because he’s concerned for Hamlet, when really he’s suspicious and covering his own back. His suspicion is Hamlet may know something, and we know he’s right to think this, whereas other characters have no idea. He wants to find the cause of Hamlet’s madness, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern don’t doubt his request, whereas we suspect Claudius. When the queen speaks, we see more genuine concern towards her son.
“Your visitation shall receive such thanks, as fits a king’s remembrance”
This seems like she’s more concerned for the welfare of Hamlet, but we could question does she know more on King Hamlet’s death than we think? We also wonder if Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are close friends of Hamlet, than they can get him to talk, and why is Claudius so desperate? Does it confirm these suspicions? Polonius now enters, and lets Claudius know that he thinks Hamlet’s madness is from being lovesick. He reads out a letter sent from Hamlet to try and back up his claims, then asks the King what he thinks of Polonius as a person. He replies “as a man faithful and honourable”. There is huge irony here. Isn’t this the same man who has just spied on his own son, and overlooking his daughter’s obvious distress so he can tell the King about Hamlet? Polonius reveals a plot. “You know sometimes he walks four hours together here in the lobby”. There is irony here in his deception, because just as Claudius knew the late Hamlets routines to deceive him, Polonius is doing exactly the same.
The audience first see Hamlet feigning his madness and fooling Polonius. In this case, the deception is humorous, and shows how easy it is for him to deceive Polonius. Polonius patronises Hamlet, and Hamlet is just very dismissive and in a sense is playing games with Polonius. The drama all of a sudden leads to humour and goes straight back to more drama and suspense when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter. The audience wonder “which way will the scene go?” and hope Hamlet will see through the lies. As he talks with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at first there is just friendly banter and we want to see them get to the point. Hamlet opens up to them saying “Denmark’s a prison”. Hamlet feels hemmed in, and trapped in situations of his brother killing his father. He’s unable to return to university and is uncertain on what paths to take. His friends lie to him, claiming their visit is only for friendship matters, no other occasion. Hamlet asks another direct question saying “were you not sent for”. He’s suspicious of his uncle and doubting his friends, and we are engaged. We are glad Hamlet is suspicious and take pleasure when Guildenstern confesses for the sake of their friendship, and seeing Claudius get what he deserves. The audience here are taking sides. The drama in this scene shows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s lack of ability in being dishonest and deceitful compared to the Kinds. The end of scene two has Hamlet planning a play to draw guilt from Claudius. He is at an uncertain point, and is critical of himself because of this. He’s hoping to have players act something similar to the brutal murder of his father in order to draw a reaction and confirm his suspicions. If he believed fully in the ghost of his father he wouldn’t go to these lengths, and it’s in these uncertainties and his inability to act quickly in which he’s deceiving himself.
The start of the next scene confirms our suspicions that Claudius has a big secret. “Than is my deed to my most painted word, o heavy burden!” Claudius has now confirmed to the audience he’s keeping a secret, and our suspicions are quite clear that “the deed” is the murder of his brother. There is more use of foregrounding here, as we know more than Hamlet. Hamlet also has a dramatic soliloquy, where he expresses his feelings towards the audience. “To be, or not to be, that is the question”. The start of his soliloquy is significantly dramatic. He’s obviously grieved from the death of his father, and the soon marriage between his uncle and mother. And now he has “a sea of trouble” from the confrontation of the ghost. What is his worth in living? We see before Ophelia enters, that he realises he’s wronged Ophelia through his deception in feigning madness. We see his views on women, and he launches an attack on Ophelia based on his opinions of his mother’s deception. He no longer trusts women, he knows people deceive and feels mankind cannot be trusted. The way in which he talks to Ophelia makes us think; to what extent is he actually feigning this madness? He comments on the way women walk and talk is to give an impression. It’s all pretence and difficult to tell truth from fantasy. This is really directed towards Gertrude, and how her grief didn’t last long. Polonius enters when Hamlet exits, and for a respectable father he shows no affection to an obviously distraught Ophelia, but instead continues to plot and deceive. “And I’ll be plac’d, so please you, in the air of all their conference”. He tells the King that after the play, tell your wife to have a talk with Hamlet regarding his recent behaviour, surely he’ll be direct with his mother and I’ll be well placed to hear. Obvious scenes of deception here and the last line of this scene is significant. The king says “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go”. He’s suspicious of Hamlet’s madness as it poses a danger to him, and is deceitful towards Gertrude as he pretends he’s going to these lengths for Hamlet’s benefit, when we know he’s covering his own back.
As the play draws closer, Hamlet lectures the players before their performance. He finds his speech highly important, and its essential for him that it’s performed with real emotion to draw a reaction. Again we see Horatio used for a second opinion. He needs two people to watch over Claudius, so it’s not obvious he’s watching him, and so Horatio can confirm his suspicions. Hamlets revenge drives his plans, and we can see Horatio is obviously trusted, because he’s the only one he tells of the details behind his father’s death. He extends the secrecy to just him and Horatio.
“Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt,
Do not itself unkennel in one speech
It is a damned ghost that we have seen”
This increases the tension and anticipation for the audience, and we’ll also keep watch of Claudius. Just before the play, we see Hamlet has the upper hand on Polonius and his deception in humouring madness again gives another dimension to the play, and shows that the deception isn’t always used for drama in the play. Just as the play is about to start, Hamlet rejects sitting next to his mother, but instead turns to Ophelia. This is for show, to give more proof to Claudius and Polonius of his apparent love sickness for Ophelia. “No mother, here’s metal more attractive”. He shows how easy it is to deceive Polonius, as he takes note of this and looks to the King. But again we see his cruelty to Ophelia through his feigned madness. We are more critical of this as Ophelia is one of the only genuine characters as well as Horatio, and has genuine feelings for him. “Lady, shall I lie in your lap?” He uses sexual innuendo, as this can be interpreted differently; he’s toying with her and is being cruel through deception, and also humiliates her. As the play starts, we see Hamlet for this first time acting on his suspicion in public. For example when he talks to Ophelia, he criticizes his mothers over hasty marriage to his uncle and comments on the relevance on the play to guilt them, hoping to draw a reaction. He provides a commentary throughout the play, as he feels it has more impact. “Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not”. He uses irony here, and at a crucial part in the play comments on the brutal murder.
“a poisons him i’th’ garden for his estate”.
“You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife”
The audience and Hamlet now witness the King rising, and see his guilt. “Give me some light. Away”. This is a crucial moment for Hamlet and a turning point as his suspicions are confirmed. The King exits, and we see more deception in the scene soon after when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern continue to look for answers from Hamlet.
“You do surely bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to your friend”
Rosencrantz is using Hamlet by speaking to him as a friend, to try and get answers through more deception. Hamlet sees through them, and replies “It is as easy as lying”. They’re finding it easy to lie to a friend, and he picks up on this to the delight of the audience. And these words don’t seem like they are coming from a madman. The scene ends with increased tension. Hamlet’s suspicions have been confirmed, so the audience now wonder, will he finally take action?
The secrecy and deception from Polonius’ part we now see contributes to his death. As he plans to spy on Hamlet, he gives Gertrude some advice as they try to find reason behind his madness. “Ill silence me even here”. He takes his spying role very seriously, and this quote is highly ironic, as we know Polonius isn’t the character who can keep quiet. When Hamlet enters he wastes no time to question the Queen. He intends to hurt Gertrude, and show her what she’s done by marrying Claudius.
“Come, come, and sit you down, you shall not budge.
You go not till I set you up a class
Where you may see the inmost part of you”
Gertrude is confused and scared, and cries out which makes Polonius draw attention to himself. “How now? A rat! Dead for a ducat, dead.” Hamlet kills the ‘rat’ hoping that it’s the King. There is significant irony behind his death. Polonius was a mean who talked a lot, and struggled to be brief and keep quiet. His deception and secrecy has played a big part towards his death, and like a rat he’s drawn attention to himself by squeaking. “Is it the king?” Hamlet doesn’t know who it is he’s killed, and we can see he’s hoping it’s the King and is finally taking action. He lifts over the cover and discovers Polonius dead. At witnessing this, the Queen comments “O what a rash and bloody deed is this!” Hamlet rebukes her, saying
“A bloody deed Almost as bad, good mother,
As kill a king and marry with his brother.”
Here he basically summarizes what she’s done with irony and sarcasm, and is amazed at how she can appear to be shocked over his death. When Gertrude replies “As kill a ling?” we see her innocence of the murder. We now see passion in Hamlets words. After holding this in for so long, he lets his mother know his disgust in how she can’t see the reality of what she’s done. “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me?” she asks.
“Such an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty”
Such an act is the incestuous adultery she’s committed, and the Queen starts to slowly pick up on this. He shows her two pictures to compare King Claudius with King Hamlet.
“Look here upon this picture and on this”
“Have you eyes?”
Hamlet’s amazed she cant see the comparison between the two characters. King Hamlet was noble and admirable. That was your husband! He tells her that the passion between her and Claudius is now tame, “You cannot call it love”. She has no sense to her senses, and after describing his father in length, then a brief description of Claudius he lets her know how she’s degraded herself. There is a real scene of conflict, and saying as the Queen wanted to know his bad behaviour, he’s now giving her full vent of his bitterness. He wants to show Gertrude how she’s deceived herself and her husband, but the ghost then appears once more. The audience are captivated from the fast flowing action, and the ghost adds to the drama once more. The Ghost reminds Hamlet how he wanted Gertrude spared, and says “Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works”. Look at the state of bewilderment your mother is in! He wanted Gertrude spared, and lets Hamlet know how he’s let slip of his revenge and deceived his father and himself by not taking action. When the ghost exits, Gertrude is clearly moved and is suspicious of Hamlets madness. He reassures her “It is not madness that I have utter’d”. He doesn’t want her to reassure herself and her guilt by thinking its madness he’s spoken. He wants his mother to deal with her sins, and reminds her he’s been sent to England and at this drags away the dead body of Polonius. His death is a result of all the deception from the time Claudius killed his brother, to the moment he agreed to spy on Hamlet. This is a highly dramatic scene, and the audience are now wondering which way the play will go.
The King’s reaction to Polonius’ murder isn’t surprising. He’s not convinced entirely on Hamlet’s madness, and sees him as unpredictable and a danger. We see a small amount of concern towards Polonius, but is more concerned over his own welfare, and realises he could be dead.
“This mad young man. But so much was our love,
We would not understand what was most fit”
He’s saying we overlook madness in loved ones, and don’t see their faults. Here is further evidence of Claudius deceiving Gertrude. He’s now provided an excuse for getting rid of Hamlet, to protect everyone from the threat he poses, when really it’s the threat he poses on himself.
“Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends,
And let them know both what we mean to do
And what’s untimely done”.
His prime concern now is about the rumours over him being a bad king, and rumours over the dead King Hamlet. He’s suspicious of Hamlet, why did he do this? And he’s afraid he may not be intent with just Polonius’ death.
Further deception from Claudius occurs when he speaks to Hamlet over what he’s done. He seems to be affectionate towards him. We see in the Kings soliloquy at the end of this scene that he wants Hamlet killed.
“By letters congruing to that effect,
The present death of Hamlet. Do it England;”
He’ll not relax until Hamlet is dead. He’s deceiving Gertrude by comforting her and saying he needs to be sent away, when really he’s sending him to his death in England. The audience are still guessing who will win this battle. Will Hamlet be sent to his death in England, or take further action?
When Hamlet witnesses the brave and purposeful young Fortinbras leading an army of Norwegian soldiers to battle, it makes him ponder his own inactivity. Everything he sees should spur him on, and realises if his thought aren’t on avenging his father’s death now, they’re useless. He realises he’s deceiving himself, and has shame. The audience now suspect the action to be fast flowing, now that he’s going on the ship to England, what will happen?
Hamlets deception by feigning madness has now led to Ophelia’s madness. Not only has she been badly treated from someone she loved, she has also lost her father. A messenger is sent from Laertes to threaten Claudius. If we compare the character of Laertes and Hamlet they are very similar. They are both well respected young men, both their fathers have been killed but the difference between them here is Laertes reaction to his fathers murder. He holds Claudius responsible for his fathers death and takes action straight away, by saying “O thou vile King!” When the Queen urges him to calm down, he reacts as expected. “The drop of blood that’s clam proclaims me bastard”. He realises if he’s calm he would think nothing of his father, and the King questions Laertes anger. This shows his character, he has no remorse for his own appalling murder, he’s seen Ophelia’s madness and Polonius’ death and we can argue they are all causes of his own secret and deception. The King protests his innocence, and we see Laertes affection when he witnesses Ophelia’s state of mind. The King acknowledges Laertes wanting to avenge his father’s death and supports him saying “with your soul to give it due content”. This suits Claudius perfectly. Hamlet will be killed, and he won’t be held responsible and neither should Laertes as he has a right to gain justice for his father and sister. This suits his purposes and shows how he happily abuses peoples trust in him to deceive.
The next scene answers some of the audiences question when Hamlet manages to escape off the ship which was destined to lead to his death in England. Again Horatio is trusted from Hamlet, who sends him a letter telling him how he managed to escape the ship and see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern endure what was his fate. When Claudius hears this news he encourages Laertes to gain his revenge as he’s now dependant on him as his first plans have failed. We again see Claudius’ skill in deception, as he helps Laertes plot against Hamlet.
“And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,
But even his mother shall uncharged the practice
And call it accident.”
Claudius is hoping everyone will be convinced that his death was an accident and there will be no suspicion. He’s a quick thinker, as just recently his plans for Hamlet’s death didn’t go to plan, so on his return he wants him killed without any suspicion. The cowardly King lets Laertes know of Hamlets supposed envy towards his fencing skill, and when Laertes questions the relevance of this he plans to organise a duel.
“Most generous, and free from all contriving,
Will not pursue the foils, so that with ease-
Or with a little shuffling – you may choose
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice
Requite him for your father.”
Claudius encourages Laertes to act, but for it to be controlled. Again we see he’s skilled in his deception, and uses what you’d expect a good quality of Hamlet’s to deceive him. He sees Hamlet’s trusting character as a fault, and since he’s not a suspicious character he won’t suspect anything when you choose an unbated sword. This foul play doesn’t surprise us, and we notice Hamlet isn’t a suspicious character because he’s taken so long to avenge his father’s murder, and still is. Laertes mentions a poison so strong, that if it were placed on the end of the sword and “gall him slightly it may be death”. The King is not content with this. He wants Hamlets death to be guaranteed, and knows that although it’s likely, he’s not sure Laertes will make contact with Hamlet. “Lets further think of this”.
“And that he calls for drink, I’ll have prepar’d him
A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,
If he by chance escape your venom stuck,
Our purpose may hold there.”
Just like he deceived his brother by poisoning him when he was vulnerable, he wants to make sure Hamlet is murdered and goes to these extreme lengths. At the end of this sentence, the Queen enters and as a result the tension increases, and the audience look to Claudius to see how he’ll react. Gertrude however brings news of Ophelia’s suicide, which in a sense seals Laertes fate in killing Hamlet. He’s now to avenge two deaths.
At Ophelia’s burial, there is conflict between the Priest and Laertes. Since Ophelia took her own life, the priest argues she shouldn’t have a sanctified burial. Laertes is very bitter towards this, and as Hamlet passes by he overhears the conflict. When Hamlet sees who the burial is for he cries out “What, the fair Ophelia!” This shows his shock and realization of what he’s caused. Gertrude scatters flowers over the body, and is in obvious distress as she thought she’d be doing this at her and Hamlet’s wedding. Laertes shows his grief, and his anger towards the person who has caused this. This ‘over exaggerated’ grief in Hamlet’s view causes him to reveal himself as this is more than he can bear. Hamlet speaks on how he didn’t mean to cause distress, and questions makes you talk so grandly about grief? At this Laertes grapples with hamlet shouting “The devil take thy soul!” Hamlet questions his lack of respect, and before they can cause more conflict the King orders them to be separated. He obviously doesn’t want this yet.
“I lov’d Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
Could not with all their quantity of love
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?”
This is an attack on Laertes as Hamlet thinks he can’t see past his own feelings, whereas he can. He honestly declares his love, and grieves at how he’s abused her. His feigned madness is questionable for the audience here. Did he have to be so cruel to prove his madness?
The last scene is the height of involvement in terms of the audience. What will happen now? How will it end? Hamlet agrees to fence with Laertes, and again we see Horatio’s trusted character when Hamlet takes advice from him. It’s this trust Hamlet has in Horatio which adds more dimension to the play than just more lies and deception. His character is truly genuine. “If your mind dislike anything, obey it”. He tells Hamlet to stick to his instincts, as he’s suspicious of this duel. We are glad he’s suspicious so he can warn Hamlet, as we know what’s coming. Before the encounter, Hamlets asks for forgiveness from Laertes.
“Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong”
“How I am punish’d with a sore distraction
What I have done”
He’s explaining it’s his madness that has hurt him, and its his anguish which lets us question how much he’s actually feigned this madness. Circumstances have made him change his normal character. Laertes accepts what he’s saying out of love, however to maintain any honour he’s lost he’s not willing to reconcile. We are not as critical of Laertes in this deception he’s about to play as we are as Claudius, because he has more of a reason to have Hamlet murdered. Everything now is leading us closer to Hamlet’s possible death, and we’re watching the wine and foiled sword closely. Hamlet gets the first strike, and at this the King offers Hamlet the wine, and drops something in it “for good health”. He is not guaranteed that Laertes will strike Hamlet and is desperate for him to drink so he can be sure. Here there is more tension for the audience once again, and we are happy when he refuses to drink until he’s played a bit more. Hamlet gets another hit, and once again the audience are relieved he’s not wounded. Gertrude is also relieved, and reaches for the wine. Again, the tension increases as the King shouts out “Gertrude, do not drink”. However she replies “I will, my lord, I pray you pardon me” and drinks then offers the cup to Hamlet. There is dramatic irony here, as we know she’s now going to die, and its her who offers the cup to her own son, a woman who loves her own son is enticing him to his death. The King soliloquises “It is the poison’d cup. It is too late”. Even now Claudius cant tell the truth. How many more people can he see die? He started this off, and his one deceptive action from killing his brother has led to the death of Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and the Queen Gertrude. In these deaths to what extent can we hold Hamlet responsible? In terms of deception, it started with Claudius deceiving all from his brother’s brutal murder. However we could argue if Hamlet had have acted quicker, Polonius may have been spared. To the relief of the audience Hamlet is still hanging on and refuses to drink. At this Laertes says “My lord, I’ll hit him now”. We are surprised when the King replies “I do not think’t” and question why not? They continue to play and to the cries of the audience, Laertes wounds Hamlet and in the scuffling, they exchange rapiers. The action is fast flowing, not only do we realise Hamlet has been hit, but now Hamlet is armed and more deaths could be approaching. The King tries to have them parted, but they are in full vent and Hamlet wounds Laertes. At this the Queen falls. All our attention was on the Hamlet and Laertes, and the wounds exchanged, but its suddenly drawn to the Queen. Originally no-one was suspicious, but now Horatio is realising they’re bleeding on both sides. His suspicions are confirmed, and something isn’t right! Laertes is asked how he is and replies “I am justly kill’d with mine own treachery”. We see Laertes here as honest and noble, and its his first realization of the treachery. When Hamlet asks how the Queen is, Claudius still continues to lie. “She swoons to see them bleed”. However, the one moment of clarity comes in Gertrude’s last words.
“No,no,the drink,the drink! O my dear Hamlet!
The drink, the drink! I am poison’d”
At this Hamlet realises the villainy and treachery and orders the doors to be locked to seek out this treachery. He wants Claudius, and its significant there is no means of escape. Laertes dies nobly, and honestly lets Hamlet know the plot and utters “The King- the king’s to blame”. This is not a sign of cowardice, he acknowledges he’s still deceived Hamlet, but he can make amends by allowing Hamlet to gain some honour before he dies. “The point envenom’d too! Then, venom, to thy work!” and at this he wounds the King. Laertes now accepts Hamlets earlier apology and asks forgiveness then shortly after dies. Horatio is significantly affected from the situations, as all the people he’s had regard for have died. However, Hamlet doesn’t want a noble honest man to die also, when Horatio questions his will to live. He cant see more death, and also he’s the only one who can put the record straight and knows the full truth of all this deception. As Hamlet dies he comments on how Denmark needs someone strong and brave to lead them, just like his father.
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”
We trust Horatio’s word, he’s always honest and he was the only one Hamlet trusted.
Suspicion, secrecy and deception all play a huge part in this play in different ways. The suspicion involves the audience, secrecy leads to suspense and deception has also proved it can be humorous at times. The deception contributes to the success of the play, as it affects our feelings towards the different characters. Polonius is made a mockery from deception when Hamlet has the upper hand on him, and deception also leads to his death. We feel pity towards Ophelia as her death is a result of Hamlets feigned madness and we are critical of the extent he had to go. As for Claudius, his deception leads the audience to hating him not only for the terrible deed of murdering his brother, but the skill in which he deceives and uses people. It’s his skill in deception which leads to many deaths and affects Hamlet’s character and makes us judge other peoples character.
