Appearance vs. Reality Essay

Reality and issueances, or if you prefer, being and acting, are important themes for both Machiavelli and Shakespeare. Why? How do their perspectives on this subject agree or differ? squareness of the most fundamental questions in school of thought is the behavior vs. rattlingity. We find ourselves as business leader the question of what is genuinely real, and what is viewed merely as nevertheless an appearance, and not real? It becomes difficult when we assume there is a difference in the two to determine which is which. Generally, what we label as real is regarded as external and eternal. What we refer to as just an appearance is regarded as temporary and internal. many another(prenominal) advance(prenominal) as well as modern day authors use the theme of appearance vs. ingenuousness to portray a character in a certain way. One of the most appreciated sensation of these authors is William Shakespeare. The theme of Appearance vs. Reality is extremely noted in Williams Shak espeares settlement. Also, the Italian governmental theorist Niccolo Machiavelli is the other one who examines the issues of veracity and appearance.Similarly, William Shakespeare and Machiavelli tell us about princes. Shakespeares twist small town bathroom be summarized as a young princes journey in life to emit the truth of his fathers death. Machiavellis The Prince is a kind of training guide for leading, or in other words it is a kind of description of what a leader should do in cabaret to effectively lead his country. The common subject of these works is reality vs. appearance therefore in this authorship the theme of appearance vs. reality volition be explored by closely analyzing both of these texts of Machiavelli and Shakespeare. Additionally their perspectives will be compared and contrasted in order to understand that whether they have the same point of view or not. passim the Shakespeares play critical point, the ambidextrousness of some main characters is po rtrayed. The most significant one of these is Claudius, who is Hamlets uncle as well as the kings chum salmon he deceitfully marries the recently widowed queen, and takes the throne. Many of the characters in the story are viewed as being honest and innocent characters, just now in realitythey are evil in their actions as well as in their speeches. at that place are really four dishonest characters that could be the perfect examples for the theme of appearance vs. reality, and they are Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the newly crowned king Claudius.When these characters are first introduced in this story, they tend to come across as being truthful and honorable, scarcely in reality they have many evil sides that show when they play their deceitful roles against Hamlet as well as against the people of Denmark. Their innocent appearances become difficult obstacles for Hamlet as he struggles and nerve-racking to find the truth behind his fathers death, for he is unsure of whom he can trust. This is a question that Hamlet has on his mind throughout the play.The events and characters within the play appear to be true and honest plainly in reality they are infested with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of falseness. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person, who is artless and genuine, in reality they are plagued with lies and malice. There appearance will make it very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the truth because the characters conceal their real intentions with a mask.Polonius, the kings royal assistant has a preoccupation with appearance he always wants to keep up the appearance of a lovely and a caring person. Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about his son, Laertes. He really does an excellent job trying to make others believe that he is a loving father who is only interested in parcel his son to grow up in the right way and become prosperous in life. His speeches can be descr ibed as sounding the way the speeches of a politician would. They are blunt, well written, and outright to the point, but are never meant to be sincere. He gives his son Laertes his blessing to go away, but he sends a spy to follow him and keep an eye on him. Although he appears to be a self-assured father he does not trust his son to go away on his own. Furthermore, Polonius adds to the theme of appearance versus reality by ordering Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet.He lies to her by telling her that Hamlet does not love her, he only lusts for her. Two of Hamlets closest friends from his childhood Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can as well be viewed as liars who become verydeceitful to Hamlet. After being asked by the king to find out what is bothering Hamlet, the two go to Hamlet pretending to see him as a friend, but are in reality just obeying the kings orders. When they ask what is troubling Hamlet, they become insincere, and to the highest degree sound as though they had rehearse d what it was they were going to say. Hamlet noticed that the boys were told to do this and states, A dream itself is but a shadow (Hamlet 73). Hamlet then realized that his own friend were not in reality any friends at all. The king again sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to apologize for their behavior but Hamlet noticed their intentions except again and simply insulted them. Hamlets supposed friends large(p)ly add to the theme of appearance vs. reality.The extreme character is Claudius, the brother of the deceased king, who was crowned the new king of Denmark is viewed as an honest and honorable man. As seen in a speech given by Claudius in the presence of the council in flake One Scene Two, he demonstrates his excellent public speaking skills Though yet of Hamlet our dear brothers death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe (Hamlet 33). Although Claudius seems sincere in his words, he cares so little about his brothers death and only cares about himself. He is just living the life that once belonged to his brother as the king of Denmark and is extremely happy to be at the head of the thrown something he had previously longed for. His speeches are given with respect for himself, his country and others. In Act One, you see that Hamlet directly insults Claudius, but the king continues to behave as if he is a loving and a caring uncle and step-father towards his nephew.In Machiavellian sense, all of these characters are victimization their appearances to their benefits, strategically they are using them to gain strength or for their own benefits. In Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince he suggests, Everyone sees what you appear to be, few move not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them. (Machiavelli, 58) In short, he says that the strongest leaders are the ones who are able to carefully balance appearance to his benefits. According to Machiavellis statement, Claudius starts off as an ideal Machiavellianprince. At the beginning of the play, Claudius appears to have complete control over Elsinore, as show by his imposing speech to the court Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial jointress to this warlike state, arrive we (as it were a defeated joy, With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage, in equal scale weighing delight and dole) Taken to wife(1.2 8-14)In this scene, Claudius, who has only recently interpreted the throne after the death of his brother, addresses some pressing issues. Seeking to create a strong early impression, Claudius uses his words very carefully. Furthermore with the words imperial jointress to this warlike state he justifies the potentially disputed union by making it appear like a benefit to the entire kingdom. The phrases which are chosen by Claudius, mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage recall Machi avellis words, for Claudius demonstrating his ability to elicit whatever emotions make him look wise and just, showing that he is in command of Denmark, despite his express mail experience as a king.Consequently, as the play develops, Claudius loses his immovable command and composure, largely due to his uphold over the potential threat posed by his stepson, Hamlet. According to Machiavelli there are ways of fitting a prince. Claudius becomes a king by killing his own brother, in Machiavellian sense he is a man who becomes a prince by some criminal and nefarious method. (Machiavelli, 28) Claudius method is presented in Machiavellis book and from his perspective it is not a wrong method. However, one can acquire prince power by this way but not glory. (Machiavelli, 29) Therefore, Claudius has taken the throne but he was not glorious and has not glory.Actually, he is not virtuous. At the end of the play we see the gradual twilight of Claudius, although he has a confident appearan ce and succeeds in becoming a strong leader, it is unable to fix the deep wounds in his soul. It is impossible not to feel sorry for him as he struggles with the task of equilibrate his outward appearance with his interior thought. Therefore, Shakespeare shows his inner conflict and dilemmas. Machiavelli seems to be unaware of these facts, feeling of regret and repentance. Claudius to a higher place every other character in the play shows how the theme of reality versus appearance is relevant to the great play written by WilliamsShakespeare, known as Hamlet.