Hamlet: Masks We Wear Essays -- essays research papers

Masks     A mask is a covering worn on the face or something that disguises or conceals unmatchedself. All the characters in Shakespeares small town fur behind masks to cover up who they really are, which contridictes a main idea, show by the fool, Old Polonius, "To thine ownself be full-strength up" (Polonius - 1.3.84). All the characters share strengths and triumphs, flaws and downfalls. rather of revealing their vulnerabilities, each of them wears a mask that conceals who they are and in that respect true convictions. The masks brought about feelings such as fear, hatred, insanity, indecisiveness, ambitiousness, and vengeance all of which contribute to the sad ending of the play. Shakespeare reveals the idea of the masks in the first lines of the play, "Whos there" (Barnardo - 1.1.1). "Nay, answer me. stem and unfold yourself" (Fransisco - 1.1.2).      These masks are upon each character, placed there by ev ery society, self-ignorance, or guilt. Ophelia, Polonius daughter and Hamlets lover, hid behind a mask, just like king Gertrudes. It was, according to the society and the culture of the time, in the best interest of the fair sex to display a passive behavior for their personal preservation, which served as Gertrudes mask. Gertrude was brought up to believe that when a woman protests her innocence, in any matter, withal more than then people volition begin to think otherwise. Gertrude revealed the idea of her mask, when responding to Hamlet inquiry of her likes to the play, her response was a bold reply, "The lady doth protest too much methinks" (Gertrude - 3.2.254), while viewing "The Murder of Ganzago." Hamlets disgust with his mothers lack of strength, in regards to Claudius sexual temptations, was evident in his soliloquy, after Gertrude begged him to stay with her and Claudius in Elsinore. "And yet, with a month let me not think on t fratility, thy name is woman." (Hamlet - 1.2.149-50) Gertrudes submissiveness is in like manner evident in her refusal to face the pain of the true nature of her husbands murder. Gertrude begs "O Hamlet, speak no more / Thou turnst my eyes into my very soul, / And there I see such black and grained spots / As will not leave their tinct" (Gertrude - 3.4.99-103). In relation to Gertrude, Ophelia is even weaker and more passive. ... ...e murder of his father, Hamlet Sr. After Hamlet killed Polonius, and stored his body, when first asked of him the pickle of Polonius body, and Hamlet replied with a riddle "The body is with the King, but the King is not / with the body. The King is a thing-" (Hamlet - 4.2.27-28). This riddle strange in itself was evidence to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of Hamlets insanity. in one case the King banished him to his death in England, Hamlet replied with "Farewell, dear mother." (Hamlet - 4.4.58). Shocking to the King, being his father and or u ncle, and Hamlet forgave an explanation to the King of why he called him his mother "My mother. Father and mother is man and wife, / Man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother" (Hamlet - 4.4.60-61). Hamlets mask of insanity had fooled the King, the Queen, Ophelia, Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Though he had fooled these people he always kept a full grasp of reality and his true convictions.     "To thine own self be true," (Polonius - 1.3.84) the words of a fool followed completely by the tragic hero, Hamlet. The masks of the characters were what lead each to their tragedy.