Steep Price for Truth
... Oedipus and Hamlet, both who are of noble blood and have responsibilities that extend further than their own lives, embark on journeys in search for truth. ... In order to learn the truth, Hamlet puts on a disguise that eventually brings destruction to members of the Danish Court and to himself. ... Hamlet realizes that he can avenge his father’s death by putting on a disguise and joining in the world of superficiality; in doing so, he discovers the truth about his father’s death and causes the destruction of the Danish Court and himself. ... Hamlet employs the insanity disguise as a means to discover the hidden truth behind his father’s death. ... Hamlet furthers his discovery for truth through the theatre and the magic of the stage. ... However, Claudius is incapable of preventing such an occurrence and ultimately suffers as a result of the truth. Hamlet’s search for truth cracks Ophelia’s disguise and unearths her true feelings about Hamlet, her father and men in general. ... On his journey to rightfully find truth, Hamlet causes the destruction of his closest circle within the Danish Court. ... Similarly, Gertrude has “no life [left] to breathe” once she stops hiding from the truth (III. ... In his attempt to evade the truth, Claudius plans to kill Hamlet. ... As a result of Claudius’ inability to endure the truth, Gertrude, the love of his life, plummets to her death. ... Hamlet’s search for truth begets the destruction of Laertes’ life, as well. ... Most tragically, Hamlet’s dedication to the truth leads to his own destruction when he confronts the consequences of his actions. ... Hamlet’s tragic fate, analogous to that of Oedipus’s, illuminates the often harsh and depressing consequences of knowing the truth. Although truth can enlighten people, it can also isolate them.