Smiles that Faded Deception that Killed William Shakespeare utilized acts of unforetold love, treachery, revenge, and deception that helped to develop works that have been highly praised for centuries. In Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet, he continues to use these tools to unfold a story that reveals the questionable sanity of the main character, Hamlet. While Hamlet grieves the death of his late father he discovers the true reality behind the mysterious death. The discovery of this unbearable truth leads to lies and untrustworthy relationships between Hamlet to those closest to him: his other, Ophelia, and Claudius.
The deception and the unreliable reality of his newfound situation drives Hamlet to insanity as he tries to differentiate between the lies constantly circling him and the truth that seems to no longer exist. The underlying truth of Hamlet’s madness roots in the uncertainty that he now lives with. In Modern Critical Interpretations Harold Bloom grasps the concept that Hamlet becomes conflicted and demented he notes, “He is tormented precisely by doubts, not by confirmations” (49). In writing this, Bloom suggest that Hamlet only has accusations against his ntagonist, but he does not know the actual truth.
As a result, Hamlet converts his uncertainty into a rage that summons the maniac within him. Hamlet cannot determine for himself whether he can or cannot rely on the words and actions of his mother. In mourning the death of his father Hamlet feels his mother has deserted him and left him to grieve the death of his father alone. The Queen’s actions creates feeling of abandoned instilled within him. Hamlet also senses an act of betrayal when the Queen unknowingly marries the murderer of her late husband.
While wanting to trust his mother Hamlet cannot bring imself to do so. The Queen put a strain on Hamlet that she did not anticipate; the Queens consequential actions renders the trust he once had in women. In a section of Shakespeare A to Z Boyce states, “most significantly, he transfers his mother’s sexual guilt to Ophelia” (232). In saying this, Boyce confirms that the actions of the Queen caused Hamlet to reject Ophelia. Hamlet forces himself to put his love for Ophelia aside as he begins to believe that all women reflect the impurity and evil that his mother possess.
His sanity started to fade away when he proved himself ruthless towards Ophelia. The beginning of Hamlet’s rejection forms when Ophelia approaches Hamlet in the library. Hamlet dwells on the fact that Ophelia must remain pure and join a nunnery to protect herself from the cruel world (III. I. 54-5). His feeling no matter how large had to come to an abrupt halt as he turned off his metaphorical humanity switch in stride to slay his demons. Due to the deceitfulness of his mother and sexual immorality of Ophelia a newly found vein of hatred for women coursed through Hamlet.
This perceptive of Hamlet’s new afflictions leads to the belief that Hamlet slowly begins to ose his grip on sanity as he falls into a never ending cycle of madness. Hamlet no longer trust the two women involved in his life. Hamlet clearly becomes the enemy of Claudius when he discovers that Claudius murdered his father. Between playing the part of peacemaker and using his compelling quick wit Hamlet saw straight through the front put up by Claudius. While lying to the kingdom of Denmark Claudius collected the love and admiration that he longed to have.
Hamlet had the sense that Claudius did not have sound intentions as he lurked around the kingdom plotting behind Hamlet’s back. Claudius played an enormous role in the shaping of Hamlet’s new foreseen fate. The actions of Claudius propels Hamlet into his shell. Hamlet slowly sinks into himself while knowing he had no one to confide in. Claudius creates the hole that allows Hamlet to dwell on the vengeance he plans to return to Claudius. The reason behind Hamlet’s madness As Hamlet becomes deserted by the ones he cares for the most he loses sight of his sanity. Spiraling downward Hamlet could not face the truth of his new reality.
He flew over the metaphorical edge. He could not withstand the ies lingering around and the inability to trust the people that he once could. As people turn against Hamlet one by one he loses the slightest pieces of his sanity until he eventually had none left. The inability to differentiate between the lies and the truth drives Hamlet to becoming deranged. Hamlet’s confusion and his lack of self confidence turns into a longing for the demise of Claudius. Vernay further explains that Hamlet wants to deliver the right for revenge are more subtle, the situation is more complex, and the avenger is morally ambiguous.
When Hamlet seeks revenge n a wrongdoer (Claudius) who is beyond the reach of the law, does he seek justice or personal satisfaction? By turning into a monomaniac Hamlet illustrates the age-old fact that passion is the root of evil. ” In saying this one can tell that the lack of sanity and temporary madness creates an infatuation for one thing within Hamlet. Some on the other hand might argue that the madness displayed in Hamlet was a rouse to fulfill his revenge. Rahman and Abbas together agree,”Hamlet’s purpose of putting on an “antic disposition” is fully accomplished.
He succeeds in eceiving Polonius and establishing the fact that he is in actual reality turned mad by making his language seemingly obscure, scattered, deviant, and scarce in words” (59). However Hamlet revenge to Claudius when he explains, “Motivations clearly did not put on an act to deceive his enemies, he truly goes mad as he suffers from an overwhelming amount of deception and abandonment. When Hamlet realizes that he has a new reason to live he sets out on his new journey in life with the sole purpose to kill the one that had so harshly harmed him.
Hamlet planned to kill Claudius as a result of the the deception ithin the kingdom and the deception forced in his life. The passion for revenge. Hamlet went out with a bang as his will for revenge ended his life in a tragic way. As Hamlet sought out his vengeance he never seems to have the right opportunity to kill the King. It seemed that Hamlet still had the slightest bit of his sanity that secreted guilt into his soul as he planned to kill Claudius during his prayer to the Lord. Hamlet claimed that he could not go through with his plan because he believed that the spirit of Claudius would automatically go to heaven (III.
III. 70). Bloom suggest that although Hamlet physically desires to punish Claudius his conscience did not agree when he wrote,”Hamlet’s pale case of thought is precisely what it says it is-that mental activity which counters every option with it’s opposite, every consideration with its contrary; which takes in aspects and calculates consequences; which is still only by and in action, but which makes every choice of action seemingly impossible” (48). Hamlet so deeply wants to fulfill the desire of revenge but his mind unconsciously does not allow him kill Claudius while he still had he tiniest sliver of humanity left in him.
But the little smudge of humanity flees from Hamlet when he discovers the true plans that Claudius concocted. He threw himself into an uncontrollable rage. The deception had gone on long enough. Hamlet finally decides to deliver the fate that Claudius deserves as his end nears. Hamlet kills the King but he never receives the feeling of fulfillment. Bloom said that Hamlet must basically die in order to restore peace when saying, “As the overdetermined image of Pyrrhus in the Player’s speech suggest, avenger and victim must finally become one.
Hamlet dies, and his death, the necessary end of his tragedy, enables his expressive gesture” (85). In saying this, Bloom suggest that Hamlet must literally die to actually deliver the true vengeance he so desperately wants to give and the rest he wants to receive. Hamlet finds himself in a binding situation. He has no one to turn to. The lies and the fading ability to tell fiction from reality sends him flying over the edge. The normal life of the young adult flipped in an instant. Hamlet discovers the truth about his father’s murder.
He then loses the capability to ever trust the omen in his life accompanied by the feeling of abandonment. In result of all this, Hamlet loses his grip on reality. He becomes distant as he questions himself and everyone that comes in contact with him. The world seems to turn against him. Hamlet sees deception around every corner. As Hamlet developes the craving for revenge he fills the little life he had left with the obsession of his vengeance. Hamlet plans to unravel the lies that entangle his life and to finally find a peace. Though the deception that fills his life seems unnecessary and unjustified he dies for his newfound insanity.
