Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of falseness. Four of the main characters that hid behind this mask are Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern), the king Claudius. ... Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about his son, Laertes. ... In reality he lies about his trust for his son by sending a spy to watch him. ... He gives him the power to let his son Laertes stay or leave for Norway. ...

• Word Count: 1669
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character Hamlet vows to avenge his father's death at the hands of Claudius. ... After Hamlet expresses doubt in the Ghost, he conveys that he must take revenge but does not have the heart to do so when he says "That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,/ Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell," (2.2.581-582). Hamlet then continues to comment on what he has been doing, "And thus the native hue of resolution/ Is sickled o'er with the pale cast of thought,/ And enterprises of great pith and moment/ With this regard t...

• Word Count: 1120
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School