Suggestions for Writing #3

Hamlet is defined by the contrast between appearance and reality. From scenes to characters as a whole, the line seperating the two becomes blurred and questioned. Hamlet's madness is the most prevalent question of appearance v. reality and serves to illustrate how difficult a situation he is really and how difficult it is for a young man to lose his father and role model. Futhermore, there is the question of Claudius' appearance as a king but reality as a crook. He is the main vehicle for the argument over inherency. There are multiple instances of character's intentions being questioned as well, from Hamlet to Polonius to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The question of appearance v. reality is a consistantly appearing motif throughout and serves to communicate many of the main themes and didactic purposes of the play.