Reality and illusion in Hamlet Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, begins with the appearance of a ghost, an apparition, perhaps a hallucination. Thus, from the beginning, Shakespeare presents the air of uncertainty, of the unnatural, which animates the action of the play and develops in the protagonist as a struggle to clarify what only seems absolute and what is actually reality. Hamlet's mind, therefore, becomes the central force of the play, choosing the direction of the conflict through his decisions regarding his revenge and defining its outcome. Shakespeare begins Hamlet's struggle by acknowledging Hamlet's sincere grief and anger following his father's untimely death. A glimpse of the conflict is expressed in the dialogue between Hamlet and his mother Gertrude. Here Hamlet forcefully declares his grief and adds a perceptive observation that defines appearances as "deeds that a man might do." (I.2 ln 84) By recognizing Hamlet's understanding of the separation between appearances and truth, Shakespeare gives the audience reasonable confidence in Hamlet's ultimate success despite the obstacles he creates for himself. Developing a convincing scheme through which to determine the goodness of the ghost and obtain revenge is Hamlet's first action. Hamlet asks his friend Horatio to refrain from commenting on any strange behavior he may display in the future. (I.5 ln 170-179) Later in the play, Hamlet alludes to his sanity when conversing with his schoolmates, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. "I'm only crazy about north-northwest. When the wind blows from the south, I know a hawk by a handsaw." (II.2 ln 377-378) After adequately concealing his intentions, Hamlet begins to doubt his own character. He compares himself to an actor who... middle of paper... fights for revenge. However, the central driving force of the play remains Hamlet's mind. The new king, Fortinbras, assures the audience that Hamlet "would probably, if it had been staged, have proved very real." (V.2 ln 391-392)Works cited and consulted: Heilman, Robert B. "The Role We Give Shakespeare". Essays on Shakespeare. Ed. Gerald Chapmann. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965. Levin, Harry. General introduction. The bank of the Shakespeare River. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974. Mack, Maynard. "Hamlet's World." Yale Review. vol. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rpt. in Readings on Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html