crimes that might harm the hierarchical order of a state's government (Scott 56). This is one of the reasons that Hamlet with a sword in his hand does not kill Claudius while he finds him in an act of praying. Deceit is also one of the main moral issues Hamlet has to face in order to avenge his father’s death that violates his moral conviction of being loyal. Hamlet risks estrangement from his moral sense as he decides to put on an antic disposition in order to trick the King of thinking that he is insane. With everyone around Hamlet, except Horatio, being deceitful, putting on an illusion to protect the King, like Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet is forced to also become deceitful and lose his attachment to his moral sense. Hamlet is forced to change the letter that initially ordered for him to be killed to having Rosencrantz and Guildenstern put to death. Hamlet demonstrates deceit here to save his own life and avenge his father’s death thus risking estrangement from his moral sense. It is true that Hamlet has both the capacity to organize a mob of supporters to overthrow Claudius and is loved by most of his countrymen to the point where, as Claudius admits, Claudius cannot openly think, feel or act in a hostile manner towards Hamlet (Knight 103). However, Hamlet is unable to organize such a mob for this purpose due to his principled nature, which prohibits him from doing so (Cahn 101). Without this option, the only way for him to avenge his father's death is by himself alone taking action against Claudius. Essentially, then, he is one man up against a king and his army of soldiers, spies and friends (Sterks, “Enstragement”). Against such odds, he faces the serious risk that “palace intrigue” could work against him according to L.C Knight. A suspicious Claudius could, for example, have some of Hamlet's colleagues in the royal household go out and spy on him, or assassinat...
