Hamlet one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, where the young .
prince of Denmark must uncover the truth about his fathers death. .
Hamlet a play that tells the story of a young prince who's father.
recently died. Hamlets uncle Claudius marries his mother the queen .
and takes the throne. As the play is told Hamlet finds out his father .
was murdered by the recently crowned king. The theme that remains .
constant throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Things .
within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are .
infested with evil. 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 .
Cluadius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person .
who is sincere and genuine, in reality they are plagued with lies and .
evil. There appearance will make it very difficult for Hamlet to .
uncover the truth, the characters hide behind. .
Polonius the kings royal assistant has a preoccupation with .
appearance. He always wants to keep up the appearance of loving and .
caring person. Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about .
his son, Laertes. Polonius speaks to his son with advice that sounds .
sincere but in reality it is rehearsed, hollow and without feeling. .
Polonius gives his advice only to appear to be the loving caring .
father. The reality is he only speaks to appear sincere as a .
politician, to look good rather then actually be good: "And borrowing .
dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be .
true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be .
false to any man. Farewell; my blessing season this in thee!" Act 1.
Polonius gives his son Laertes his blessing to go away, he sends .
a spy to follow him and keep an eye on him. This shows his lack of .
trust for anyone, he gives the appearance of a confident father who .