Perception In Hamlet

It is easy to perceive what is not reality for we can just as easily be deceived by their appearances. Phaedrus, a Roman author, once said that “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.” We all know the idiom, don’t judge a book by its cover, though many choose not to abide by this moral. As a result, being deceived by appearances becomes a common mistake. In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, many characters deceive others with the use of dishonest lies and appearances, to put on an act while hiding their true intentions. However, this leads them punished intentionally or unintentionally, making them all realize that death is a reality that appearance

He puts up an appearance of a hero to his people, for they think he has saved them by taking over the throne after their deceased king. However, it is Claudius who murdered their past king and his own brother, King Hamlet. “O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! / My tables - meet it is I set it down / That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain” (1.5.106-108), pronounces Hamlet as his father’s ghost tells Hamlet that it was, indeed, Claudius who killed him. For this reason, Hamlet expresses that although one might appear to be virtuous, in reality, they are nothing but deceptive appearances. It is just as Claudius smiles to the people around him, fooling them that he is nothing but a happy king, though he has done a rotten crime. Yet, unlike the other characters, Claudius knows that his crimes and lies will end him negatively. Likewise, his conscience pains him when he hears Polonius state that appearances often hides evil: Oh, ‘tis too

(3.2.329-330, 333-336)

Hamlet uses the metaphor of a pipe being played to mock Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of their deception, for not being skilled enough to “play upon” (3.2.330) him. The act of friendship that they portray is all but an appearance. Once more, proving that one should look past the appearance and lies of another to determine their true intentions. Just as Hamlet ridiculed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for their deceit. Later, Hamlet pays them back the favour and gets them what they deserve by sending them to their deaths in England. As a result of their naive deception, they were ultimately lead to their deaths.

One should not deceive others or be believe the false appearance one might show, for it will only lead to an unfavourable outcome. Instead, we need to ascertain the true intentions behind the lies. Just as Hamlet is able to do, throughout the play. But in the end, it is just as Laertes states: “I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (5.2.287), as he dies due to his deception, like every character that does so in the play. Polonius puts an act of a caring father, Claudius acts as a hero of his people, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern put on an act of friendship. Nevertheless, these acts are only appearances for show to hide their true intentions, though it only led the characters to an unfortunate ending, death by Hamlet. They realize the reality, that death cannot be hidden, even by a false