Deception

• Early in the play, Hamlet is shown to have strong, absolutist morals in his rejection of his mother's marriage so soon after his father's death and his sense of outrage at the deception that his uncle used in gaining the throne. Still, Hamlet had to reconsider his absolutist ideals and engage in similar deception to achieve justice in the play. The death of Hamlet, as well as the other deceptive figures in the play, corresponds to Hamlet's original absolutism, making his choice to deceive for justice all the more significant.
  
  

Insanity

• In the play, Hamlet makes his bold declaration that he intends to pretend to be mad as a means of gaining information and moving without suspicion through the castle. What is left uncertain is whether or not Hamlet's feigned insanity becomes real madness. It is known that his love interest, Ophelia, does go insane, leading to her death. Further, Hamlet himself is left alone to cope with the death of his father, the immorality of his mother and uncle and the distress of his own deceit. The insanity theme is not resolved within the play, leaving a question open for audiences to consider.
  
  

Revenge

• Shakespeare uses three separate revenge plots in Hamlet, two of these serving as foil plots for Hamlet's extended delay and decision to pursue revenge. The plot regarding Laertes and his search for revenge over the death of his father, Polonias, who was killed by Hamlet, is the first and questions the delay that Hamlet uses to avenge his own father's death. The march by Fortinbras and his soldiers, over the death of his own father, is the final revenge plot, bringing into question the scope of Hamlet's chosen form of revenge. Ultimately, these different forms of revenge bring into question the nature and value of revenge.
  
  

Death

• Death themes fill the pages of this play, from Hamlet's questions regarding suicide in his famous "To be or not to be" speech to his monologue at the gravedigger's site. "Hamlet" considers the question of death from aspects that include suicide, murder, revenge and mass death. The play offers numerous questions about the role of death in life and questions the human fascination with death.