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Examples Of Appearance Vs Reality In Hamlet

1224 Words5 Pages

Cailynn Winford
Mr. Fanzo
English Honors IV
May 11, 2023
Hamlet Essay

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, a common theme expressed is the idea that appearances may not coincide with reality. The truth and question is can we ever honestly know another person? I think the answer is we can never truly “know” another person because we are constantly presenting false images of ourselves to the world and you think you can know someone but they always prove you wrong in the end. The biggest thing about Appearance vs. Reality we see today is the falsehoods on social media. Social Media shows us how people change, they are not 100% themselves all the time, and it shows how people are different, it expresses their comfortability, and you …show more content…

Reality. In scene three Ophelia and Hamlet are talking and after Hamlet says he never loved her she says “I was the more deceived” When she says this she knows Hamlet is lying and plays onto the appearance vs reality through lies. Back in scene one Hamlet and Ophelia have an interesting interaction and Hamlet says and asks her “Are you honest? Are you fair? For the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to be a bawd… I did love you once,” Hamlet is asking if she actually is pure and beautiful in appearance vs the reality of how beauty corrupts character expressed towards Ophelia. Hamlet is also very insulting in his words toward Ophelia but says he used to love her and also plays onto Ophelias being used and played by men. In scene one the quote was made stating “I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another…It hath made me mad.” this is claiming the deceitfulness of women who are given one face but use makeup to create another. This is one of many things that add to Hamlet’s “madness” and contributes to the theme of appearance vs

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