Deception is a fundamental component of Shakespeare's Hamlet. It appears most significantly in Claudius concealing the murder and in Hamlet concealing knowledge of the same. Hamlet also feigns madness to mislead others and attempt to prove Claudius' guilt. Other characters, including Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, also all use deception to discover the source of Hamlet's apparent madness and report back to the dishonorable Claudius. The conclusion of the play suggests that deception will always lead to destruction and tragedy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Claudius effectively deceives members of the Danish court to discourage any skepticism that might arise from his sudden seizure of power. Claudius claims that he did not disqualify the “best wisdom of the courtiers, that went freely / with this affair” (I.ii.15-6), thus validating his seemingly illegal actions. Claudius's persuasive but misleading speech is intended to justify his hasty marriage to Queen Gertrude and to view the death of Hamlet's father as simply an unfortunate event, not a murder he carried out. Unconvinced by this story, Hamlet focuses on deceiving and capturing Claudius. . Hoping to “capture the king's conscience” (II.ii.634), Hamlet arranges a performance of The Mousetrap, a play that closely resembles the murder of Hamlet's father, to witness Claudius' reaction. If Claudius shows some form of guilt upon seeing the play, Hamlet will be sure that Claudius killed his father. Hamlet believes that with “an old-fashioned disposition” (Iv192), he will be more easily and, in his mind, rightly able to avenge his father's death. Polonius acknowledges Hamlet's madness while admitting that "there is / method in 't" (II.ii.223-4), ultimately realizing that Hamlet has some ulterior motive in putting up such a facade. Although the members of the Danish court recognize Hamlet's loss of sanity, they all seem to offer different reasons for his madness as Hamlet's reticent nature presents very few possible explanations. Both of Hamlet's close friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are ordered by Claudius and Gertrude to spy on Hamlet to discover the cause of his madness. As the Queen insists, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will show Gertrude and Claudius "nobility and good will / How to spend [their] time" (II.ii.22-3) by visiting Hamlet. Once again, Hamlet's taciturn attribute prevents his mother and Claudius from determining the underlying cause of “Hamlet's transformation” (II.ii.5). Preoccupied with feigning madness, Hamlet seems to lose his zeal to avenge his father's death. Hamlet even questions his own character when an actor with “Tears in his eyes, distraction in his countenance” (II.ii.582) demonstrates a more passionate sense of vengeance than he does for his father's death. Hamlet's deception to uncover his father's true killer pushes him into a state of insecurity in which Hamlet condemns himself and wonders if he is a coward. Polonius, convinced that Hamlet's melancholy state is caused by his love for Ophelia, hides with Claudius to overhear a conversation with Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet, portraying himself as a madman, insolently orders Ophelia to come “to a nunnery” (III.i.131) as she would become a “breeder of sinners” (III.i.132). Following the discussion, Claudius states that he will send Hamlet to England to free him from his disturbing and melancholy state. Polonius, however, continues to state that Hamlet's agitation is still a consequence of his love for Ophelia. For.