In the play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," William Shakespeare has used the theme of deception, and how its use by one or more characters leads to their downfall. Polonius explicitly stated this theme when he said to Laertes in I, ii, "By indirections find directions out." Each major character in Hamlet, in his or her own way, provided an example of this theme. By using deceit the characters in "Hamlet" employed methods to fulfill their own agenda, an action that ultimately resulted in tragedy.

Shakespeare's use of deception is seen most clearly in Hamlet's actions. He began to "act mad" early in the play in order to manipulate his friends. "...Hereafter [I] shall... put an antic disposition on" (I.v.171-2). Hamlet swore to use this antic disposition to uncover his father's murderer. He used this performance as a tool of artifice in order to cover up his true feelings. Hamlet went too far however, and his underhanded plan began to work against him.

By not coming clean with those he trusts most, Hamlet served to alienate them from himself, and from his cause (of avenging his father's death). In III i, Hamlet said to Ophelia,

The king recognized his nephew's objective of trickery through "madness", and tried to put a premature end to Hamlet's plans. To accomplish this he did not try to eliminate Hamlet himself, rather, the king turned Laertes against him, again embodying the theme of deception.

As a relatively minor character Laertes exhibits all the same traits as the rest of Shakespeare's cast - deception and deceit. He is seen as almost identical to Hamlet. Both loved Ophelia, both of their fathers were wrongfully murdered, and both sought revenge. The only difference is that Laertes was more willing to act on his convictions. This alone was not devious, but the methods he employed definitely were. "I will do it... I'll anoint my sword... that if I gall him slightly, / it may be death." (IV.vii.137-47). By poisoning the tip of his sword, Laertes not only killed Hamlet, he used the themes of the play to do so. This, as repeatedly shown, is what led him to tragedy; his death.

"God hath given you a face, and you make [yourself] another." Prince Hamlet hypocritically attacked her for concealing her opinions, while he counterfeited his own opinions with the antic disposition. Ophelia is not the only character he acted mad toward; he used the same duplicity toward all characters in the play. When speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, for example, he asked them to "be even and direct" with him, but did not inform them of the intent behind his own deceitful actions. As shown when Rozencrantz said to Hamlet, "You... bar the door upon your own liberty, if you deny [telling] your griefs to your friend[s]" (III.ii.317-8), Hamlet had not been fully open with his friend

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Approximate Word count = 1117
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)