Theme in Hamlet: Appearance vs. Reality

A reoccurring theme in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, is appearance vs. reality.  The characters appear to portrayed in a certain way to the public, but how they are in reality is much different.  Many of the characters have hidden intentions.  While this theme of appearance vs. reality is evident throughout the play, I will examine a few lines from the first scene so they can be revisited after we finish reading Hamlet.

(Act I, scene i - line 41)
Bernardo:  "In the same figure like the king that's dead."
-- Here, Bernardo is saying that the ghost that keeps coming and going appears to be the King.  Afterwards, Horatio doesn't believe them until he sees the ghost for himself.  Since the King is dressed in his armor, Horatio believes that his could mean that Denmark may be in trouble with another country's army.  As the ghost appears to be a harmful message, he is really just trying to help out.

(Act I, scene ii - line 76)
Hamlet:  "Seems, madam?  Nay, it is.  I know not 'seems.'"
-- When Hamlet is speaking to his mother about his father's death, he says in this quote, "I don't seem sad, I am sad."  Most men, especially those with status such as Hamlet, should not behave in such a depressed manner.  Hamlet's mother is basically telling him to get himself together and to not be such a weakling, by saying that although being sad about a father's death is common, it is even more 'particular' to him.  There's greater grief inside of him than what appears on the surface.

(Act I, scene v - lines 45-46)
Ghost:  "So to seduce! - won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen."
-- The ghost is basically telling Hamlet that his mother may appear to be the truthful, moral woman that a queen should be, when she is actually a dark person.  She was seduced by Claudius, his brother, who had poured poison into the King's ear.  Gertrude turned out to be very deceiving, and that played greatly to the death of her husband.

(Act I: scene v - line 138)
Hamlet:  "It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you."
-- Horatio thought it was necessary to tell Hamlet about his father's ghost meandering about, and let him know what he thought the armor he was adorned with actually meant.  This ominous ghost that people are seeing about town is stirring up an uneasy feeling.  However, Hamlet is trying to reassure Horatio who believes the ghost carries evil with him.  Hamlet lets him know that his father's ghost is a real ghost; it is not a demon.