Hamlet Appearance VS Reality

In reality they are Claudius's workers who are trying to help murder Hamlet. However, Hamlet realizes their intentions and shows that he does not trust both Rosencrantz nor Guildenstern.

Hamlet says: "Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd" (Shakespeare 3.4. 2608).

They appear to be Hamlet's close friends since childhood. Seem to have much respect for Hamlet and feel sorry for his loss

When they both address him saying "My honored lord! And My most dear lord!”

In reality, Polonius is very nosey and always wants to be the first one with any news. He is also very controlling as he makes all the decisions for Ophelia causing her to be dependant.

“ You speak like a green girl,
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance” (Shakespeare 1.3. 588-589).

Polonius comes across as a very sincere and loving person. He plays a very active role as a father. Polonius advises his daughter Ophelia of Hamlet's "true" intentions of him not really loving her but using her.

"And that in way of caution- I must tell you
You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behooves my daughter and your honour.
What is between you? Give me up the truth" (Shakespeare 1.3. 582- 585).

Situational Irony

Claudius cares for his late brother and refers to him as “a dear brother” (Shakespeare 1.2. 200).

King Hamlet died from a snakebite

Claudius murdered the old King Hamlet by poisoning him.

It appears that Hamlet has gone insane due to his father passing away, his mother marrying his uncle and rejection from Ophelia.

Polonius describes Hamlet's madness by saying: "Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves" (Shakespeare 2.2. 1245-1248).

Hamlet is pretending to be insane and is putting on an antic disposition to find out if Claudius actually killed King Hamlet. Hamlet is also trying to kill Claudius and blames it on his insanity.

Hamlet said “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on” (Shakespeare 1.5. 924-925).

Claudius puts on an appearance of caring and grieving for his brother’s death

Claudius says “to bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom, to be contracted in one brow of woe” (Shakespeare 1.2. 203-204).

Claudius murdered the old King Hamlet

Claudius says: “O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder” (Shakespeare 3.3. 2318-2319).

Gertrude appears to care for her sons well being by praying for him and wanting him to stay with her.

Gertrude says "Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg" (Shakespeare 1.2. 321-322).

Gertrude is not caring nor empathetic towards Hamlet mourning the loss of his father. Instead, she tells him to move on and except his death. She is also very selfish as she knows marrying will hurt Hamlet, yet she proceeds to do so.

Gertrude said; "Do not forever with thy vailèd lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st ’tis common: all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity." (Shakespeare 1.2. 272- 275).