Hamlet

Deception in Hamlet “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”, is most definitely a statement that applies in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. With the initial act of King Hamlet’s murder, the resulting events affect the lives of all the characters in the play Hamlet. A web of lies and deceit spread widely throughout the play and it is this deception that contributes to fatal ending of the main characters in the play. In attempt to fulfill all his selfish needs, Claudius is determined to keep the throne of Denmark and the Queen through treachery, tricks and lies. Claudius is very skillful at manipulating those around him in order to achieve his goals and keep his secret safe. The effect on Prince Hamlet is profound as it launches him on a journey of revenge. In his quest for revenge, Hamlet is guilty of using deception as a means to achieving his ultimate goal of killing his dishonest uncle Claudius. Polonius who is Lord Chamberlain shows his deceitful nature early on when he hires Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and when he convinces Ophelia to spy on Hamlet. Gertrude and Ophelia both are deceitful in their own way, Gertrude as a method of being loyal to her husband and Ophelia as an obedient daughter still in love with Hamlet. Claudius’ murder of his brother, King Hamlet is the incident that sets the wheels in motion for the tragic chain of events to follow. His selfish desire to have the kingdom of Denmark and its queen allows him to lie to everyone in the play at one time or another in order to keep them from knowing the truth about him killing the King. He is deceiving not only the people of Denmark, but Hamlet into thinking that his father was killed by a poisonous snake and that he wants what is best for Denmark. Claudius would like nothing better than for Hamlet to put aside his mourning so that life can go back to normal, “From the first corse till he that died to-day,/“This must be so.” We pray you, throw to earth/ This prevailing woe; and think of us/ As of a father” (1.2.105-108) knowing full well that it was his treason that is the cause of King Hamlet’s death and will be plotting Hamlet’s death as the plot develops further. Claudius’ deceptive ways are also evident in his misleading of Gertrude. He convinces her to marry him even though only two months have passed since her husband’s death and makes her believe that his intentions are genuine for her and Hamlet. When Claudius realizes that Hamlet is suspicious of him, he plots his murder through an unsuspecting Laertes, “what would you undertake,/ To show yourself your father’s son in deed/ More than in words'” (4.7.125-127). Hamlet’s deception stems from the grief over his father’s death and he attempts to use various tactics as a means to achieve his goal of revenge towards his uncle Claudius as opposed to using a more honest approach. It is ironic that while he is intending to deceive, he is also the victim of deception. By portraying himself as mad, he gains pity from all around him and is seen as less of a threat by Claudius, “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,/How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself,/ As I perchance hereafter shall think meet/ To put an antic disposition on,” (1.5.170-173). Hamlet also devises a clever ploy to try to catch Claudius off guard by having the travelling players perform a play that resembles the murder of his father. He only lets Horatio know and help him with his plan, “Give him heedful note;/ for I mine eyes will rivet to his face,/ and after we will both our judgements join/ In censure of his seeming.” (3.2.83-86). This results in Claudius abruptly leaving the play confirming to Hamlet that Claudius is guilty. Hamlet is not only at fault of deceiving others, but is also guilty of deceiving himself. He makes excuses for not killing Claudius, “The spirit I have seen/ May be a devil: and the devil hath power/ To assume a pleasing shape,” (2.2.596-598) when there are opportunities to do so. Polonius deceives everyone in the play from having Reynaldo spy on his own son, Laertes in Paris, to having his daughter Ophelia pretend to be reading a bible in order for him to gather information about whether Hamlet is truly mad or what his intentions are. He also secretly spies on the meeting of Hamlet with Gertrude which leads to his own death, "I’ll silence me e’en here./ Pray you, be round with him.” (3.4.4-5). This deception results in Hamlet mistaking him for Claudius behind the curtain and stabbing him to death. This sets the plot of deception on a winding path of death and destruction, Polonius being the first death at the hand of Hamlet. Gertrude is not totally innocent regarding deception either. She goes along willingly with all that Claudius asks of her beginning with convincing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on her son, “For the supply and profit of our hope,/ Your visitation shall receive much thanks/ As fits a king’s remembrance.”(2.2.24-26) to find out what they can about Hamlet‘s emotional state while pretending to be his friends. Gertrude must share the blame in Polonius’s death to some degree as well, as she takes part in the plan to have Polonius hide behind the arras and eavesdrop as she speaks to Hamlet, “I’ll warrant you: fear me not./ Withdraw, I hear him coming.”(3.4.7-8). This is another example of deception that arises from the web that is spinning out of control. Gertrude is deceiving herself as well since she refuses to believe her son when he tells her that Claudius is the murderer of King Hamlet, “A bloody deed' Almost as bad as, good mother,/ as kill a king and marry with his brother.” (3.4.29-30). She is clearly in denial and will not face up to anything that will upset her happiness. Ophelia also plays a role in the web of deception although she is caught in the middle between loyalty to her father and her love for Hamlet. She lies to Hamlet during the meeting that Polonius and Claudius arranged. When asked the whereabouts of her father, Ophelia lies, “At home, my lord.” (3.1.131). Ophelia held the outcome of Hamlet’s tragic end in her hands. If she was honest with Hamlet about her purpose the events to follow may have taken a different turn. Through lies and deceit it is clear that all the characters in Hamlet use dishonesty for their own means, either as a way of achieving what they want or self preservation. It is evident from the initial deception which Claudius portrays himself as a noble and honest King, a web is woven which entangles all the characters until the deception is finally revealed and the result is the tragic end, death, of all those involved, leaving only Horatio to reveal to the world the true story of Hamlet.