ACT IV - The Truth Begins to Unfold
In this scene, Claudius and Larates plot against Hamlet and try and figure out ways to kill him, which they find out is harder to do since he is generally well liked. They decide to use their deception to convince him to go to England, where they will have him killed. Also, Hamlet uses his new found skills in trickery to evade death. Since he found out that Claudius is only sending him to England to have him be killed, he switches the name on the note for his death to his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, instead. Through Hamlets deception, he actually evades death instead of causing it. Another way deception is used is when Claudius and Laertes plot against Hamlet. They decide that if their other methods of killing him fail, they will poison wine and give him some. This also shows that they must make very intricate plans to kill him, since he is so well liked and looked up to amoung the town. This just shows that Claudius will go to any lengths to deceive and kill anyone that gets in the way of his plans, even his own nephew.  | How Deception and False Appearances is shown in this Act: In the fourth act of Hamlet, there are multiple examples of how deception and false appearances are used. The first way it is seen is when Rosencrantz is confronted by Hamlet about his loyalty to the king. After Rosencrantz asks where Polonius's body is, Hamlet goes into a rage due to their deception. He says, "But such officers, do the king best service in the end. He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed, then swallowed" He insults his old friends by calling them apes and saying that the king is only using them. This is when Hamlet really begins to see all the deception around him. |
