Essay/Term paper: Hamlet: the theme of masks

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Hamlet

Hamlet: The Theme of Masks


In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, there is a prevalent and almost
overwhelming theme. All throughout the play, all of the characters appear as
one thing, with one standpoint, and one outlook. However on the inside, all of
these characters are completely different. This "mask' theme, the way that all
of the characters portray themselves as one person on the outside and one
different one on the inside, is not in the least disguised by Shakespeare.
Claudius, the murdering king, appears to be a somewhat kind, caring, and
friendly person. But inside he is different. He is cold, calculating, and
self-serving. But this might also be a mask. The women in the play, Ophelia
and Gertrude, both use a type of mask to cover what is obvious in their lives,
masking it so that they can continue living as if their existence was without
and cruelty. And finally Hamlet hides behind his madness, be it real or pretend,
a person who is indecisive and spiteful. Masks in this play are not just a
theme; they are the whole basis of it.

The mask theme develops throughout the play as various characters try to cover
their secret intentions with a veneer of a whole other person. One of the most
obvious, of course is Claudius. Claudius murdered his brother, the former king
Hamlet, in order to become king himself. This murder, which was done in secret,
with no one but Cladius knowing that the act was committed by him. Not only is
he the King of Denmark, but he is also married to Queen Gertrude, his brothers
former wife. These hideous and awful crimes have not been punished, and no one
knows that Claudius has done this. When Claudius confronts anyone, he must
become someone totally different. Claudius puts on a mask of his own. He is
no longer the self-serving, cold, calculating man that he really is, out he
becomes a kind, caring man who does his very best to ensure that Gertrude stays
with him, and also so that he can do his best to keep Hamlet from trying to
take the kingdom and destroy what Claudius has worked for so long to gain. To
this end Claudius wears his mask. But is Claudius really the mask or what he
is underneath? This is called into question when Claudius tries to seek
redemption for his sins. This scene shows that his character, like Hamlets is
not quite as clear cut as most men. Claudius wrestles with his guilt by asking
himself, "Where to serves mercy/ But to confront the visage of offense?/ And
that's in prayer but his twofold force,/ to be forestalled are we come to
fall,/ Or pardoned being down?" (3.3.50-54) He then answers his own question
by saying, "But, O, what form of prayer/ can serve my turn? "Forgive me my foul
murder?"/ That cannot be, since I am still possessed/ of those efforts for
which I did the murder!/ My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." (3.3.55-
59) So Claudius comes to the understanding that, even though he wears
redemption like his outside self, his real self cannot give up the trappings of
this position. Claudius, in his questioning, has separated the mask from the
person and has found that the mask is the fake Claudius. Not every character
is so confused as to their nature, however.

The in Hamlet are confused in a much different way. Both Ophelia and
Gertrude mask themselves to the harsh realities of their life. Ophelia's mask
is far more fragile than any other. Despite Hamlets almost incessant cruelty
to Ophelia drives her, eventually insane. She puts up a defense at first ,
trying to protect herself from Hamlet's cruelty, but it fails. Ophelia believes
for awhile , that hamlets loves her deeply, and that he would never harm her
directly. But soon, through his words and his actions, such as killing her
farther, shatter her mask that served to protect her from Hamlets assaults.
When the truth and reality bit her, she breaks under its pressure and commits
suicide. Gertrude, the other woman in the play, has a much stranger mask. She
refuses to see or believe the truth that Hamlet shows her, the truth that
Claudius murdered her husband for the kingdom. She is also convinced of Hamlets
madness, but what he says does not affect her much at all. Even at her death
she does not realize of see the truth of Claudius' betrayal. Her mask is one
that puts herself into her world. As long as she lives her life unaffected, she
is happy, and she will not let anything shatter her fantasy.

But the most complicated, and one of the best examples of a mask is
Hamlet himself. The line between Hamlet's mask and his reality is very fine
and difficult to discern. His mask, or as it would seem to be, is his madness.
Hamlet certainly acts the part well, for even if his madness is real, it is
still a mask to cover his real self and his real plans. In his mad delusions
he hurts countless people with his verbal attacks. He ruins his standing and
the standing of others as well. Either way his madness can be looked upon, it
still acts as a mask of his real self, an undecided, cruel, suspicious person
who care for little but those who either are close to him, or have wronged him.
The reason that Hamlets real self is so easily discerned is because of his.
Hamlet kills innocent people such as Rosencratz, Guildenstern, and Polonius,
with no thought at all to the possible repercussions that murder could have.
After killing Polonius, hamlet encounters Laertes, Polonius' son. Laertes,
knowing that Hamlet was responsible for Polonius' death, attacks Hamlet.
Hamlet cannot understand why; he literally does not realize that Laertes might
be enraged with anger. Later Hamlet blames Polonius' death on his own madness,
saying to Horation, "If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,/ Andwhen he's not
himself does wrong Laertes,/ Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it./ Who
does it then? His madness." (5.2.244-251). The fact that Hamlet can
differentiate between his madness, his mask, and himself shows that not only
does he not care about the damage he causes, but also that he has a mask and
it. If he has a mask of madness, then it proves that he cares not for
Ophelia. His actions towards her are atrocious, his attacks basically
unnarrated. Afted she kills herself, Hamlet finds her grave site and says, from
his true self, "I loved Ophelia, Forty thousand brothers/ could not with their
quantity of love/ Make up my sum." (5.1.285-287). If Hamlet loved Ophelia so,
then he would not have treated her so badly. His madness was a mask, no matter
how thin, that covered up his resentment of Ophelia, and women in general. He
treats his mother horribly, threatening her, and forcing her to submit to his
will. Also Hamlet shows his real self by forging a death warrant for them, and
having them killed without their last rites. This unabashed cruelty is not
madness- it is Hamlet himself. His madness is a simple cover to mask his real
doings and feelings.

Everyone in Hamlet has a mask. These all serve to provide their "
" with protection, and also to enable them to receive something that they want
to get. From the women wanting a perfect world; to Claudius seeking to
convince everyone of his kindness, while inside he is venomous, and to Hamlet
and his mad masking of his inner spite and indecisiveness. The theme of masks
is developed early on, and reaches a climax where all characters at one time
hear false appearances. And as such, this theme is the control basis for the
actions of the characters in the play.