Smile In Hamlet

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1.) “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain”, a similar phrase to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar "And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,/ Millions of mischiefs" (Act 4, scene 1, 50–51). This phrase refers to those who though smile and act benevolent aren’t in fact what they seem. The character that fits most perfectly with this description is Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle who we can repeatedly see how his actions don’t reflect his true intensions. He hides his crimes behind festivities and false grief as we can see when he decides to marry his late brother’s wife after Claudius himself assassinated him. He manipulates others to achieve what he desires as he manipulated Laertes into killing Hamlet even though deep-down he knew he was