Deceit plays a pivotal role in Shakespeare's Hamlet, causing a change in the relationships between characters and a difference in their attitudes, whereas feelings of trust and confidence turn to deception and disloyalty. Fortinbras states in Act V, scene ii, his notification of the changes caused by this trait.

"And let me speak to the yet unknowing world

How these things came about

Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,

Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,

Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook

Fallen on th'inventors' heads." (Hamlet V,ii).

Claudius is the main character who is very deceitful, who turns his back on Hamlet and influences the surrounding characters to do so as well. "Claudius is the master of deception, not only in concealing himself, but also in seeking out the nature of others" ("Cat and Mouse" 1). Trust was broken, and in effect, Hamlet was left in despair. Although each character had their own intentions, whether they were to hurt him or not, Hamlet ended up as their prey in the end.

With Claudius causing everyone to turn on Hamlet, Hamlet becomes very cautious of his surroundings. Throughout the play, he knows of what Claudius did to his father, so he takes little steps to approach a level of revenge. In Act III, scene ii, Hamlet's play, The Mousetrap, is carried out to capture the very instant where Claudius is susceptible of breaking down from guilt. The moment where the character of Lucianus pours poison into the ear of the "King" is the same moment in which Claudius leaps up and shrieks "Stop the play!". "Claudius is, however, more caught in conscience by Hamlet's play within the play" (Jorgensen 46). This is a turning point for Hamlet, because now everything falls into place. "Hamlet 'catches the conscience' of the king, and drives the wretched man in terror from his throne" (Wilde 41). He realizes the guilt that Claudius withholds, and he also realizes that it is now easier to keep Claudius right where he wants him.

Because of Claudius's behavior and deception, Hamlet suffers the most out of any other character in the play. He loses his interest in life and his trust in everyone around him, and his overall character changes. "He [Hamlet] sinks into a deep sadness, close at times to madness, in his mission" (Levin 2). Even though Hamlet was effected most, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were, too. Lives were lost, lies were told, and hearts were cheated.

4. Charney, Maurice. All of Shakespeare. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993.

7. Bloom, Harold. Bloom's Notes. Broomall, Chelsea House Publications, 1996.

2. Jorgensen, Paul A. William Shakespeare: The Tragedies. New York: Twane Publishers, 1985.

11. "Hamlet: Brutal Truth." http://essays.virtualave.net/english (13 April 2000).

Some common words found in the essay are:
Act III, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, Gertrude Hamlet's, Guildenstern England, Hamlet Claudius, Cat Mouse, Fortinbras Act, Hamlet Claudius's, Hamlet Jorgensen, Hamlet Levin, rosencrantz guildenstern, scene ii, act iii scene, shakespeare tragedies york, close times, cat mouse, hamlet claudius, university press, hamlet york, inc 1992, 13 april 2000, william shakespeare tragedies, william shakespeare, play claudius,
Approximate Word count = 1631
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)