Exploiting the Inner Truths

Shakespeare’s play Hamlet emphasizes the vital role that language plays in establishing different types of behavior. Shakespeare explores how characters establish an outward disposition through the language they use in an attempt to hide their true intentions and inner thought. Prominently, Hamlet and King Claudius exemplify the behavior of hiding motivations and fears by acting in an obscure outward manner. While Claudius seems to be generous and always smiling, he truly feels insecure due to his illegitimate acquisition of the throne. For example, King Claudius confronts Hamlet about Hamlet’s ongoing mourning of his father. In appearance, Claudius seems to provide counsel for Hamlet, who suffers over the loss of his father. However, Claudius’ own insecurity and guilt are the hidden reasons why he orders Hamlet to refrain from grieving his father’s murder. And while Hamlet outwardly expresses a sense of hysteria and insanity, his true intentions are to retaliate for his father’s death. Hamlet’s conversations with Horatio, In comparison to his interaction with those he dos not trust best exemplify how his outwardly insane disposition is used to hide his indignation for King Claudius. In Hamlet, different types of language are used to create an appearance of each character’s disposition while concealing malignant truths.