Deception and the Fall of HamletDeception is a major cause of Hamlet's downfall. This is demonstrated three times in the play. First, Polonius spies on Hamlet while he speaks privately with his mother Gertrude. Second, Claudius sends Hamlet to England. Finally, Laertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet. The first way in which deception leads to Hamlet's eventual downfall is through spying on Polonius. In Act III, scene iii, Polonius decides to help the king by spying on Hamlet and his mother when he says, “My lord, [the king], he is going into his mother's closet. Behind the arras I will transport myself to hear the process." (III; iii; 28 - 29) In Act III, scene iv, Polonius takes his chance and listens to a conversation between Hamlet and his mother, hoping that Hamlet would confide to his mother something that could be used against him Unfortunately for Polonius, Hamlet overhears him behind the curtain and (thinking that Polonius is in fact a spy for King Claudius) stabs and kills him immediately. This event contributes to the downfall of. 'Hamlet because Claudius can use it as an excuse to send Hamlet back to England Officially, the king sends Hamlet back, "for your particular safety" (IV; iii; 37) with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because murder might gain him enemies. Privately however, Claudius plans for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to accompany Hamlet to deliver a message to the King of England that Hamlet must be executed. Furthermore, by sending Hamlet away, Claudius protects himself because Hamlet is "loved by the distracted multitude [the audience]. ]”. (IV; iii; 4) So, if Hamlet showed the people that Claudius had killed Hamlet's father, then they might believe him and, therefore, overthrow and kill Claudius. So, the problem is that Claudius wants Hamlet dead. Furthermore, if Claudius' plan works, then Hamlet will die and his father's death will not be avenged. Thus, if Polonius had not spied on Hamlet and Gertrude, Hamlet would not have killed Polonius and therefore Claudius would not have a good enough excuse to send Hamlet back to England. Fortunately for Hamlet, Claudius's deception fails. This deception, however, still contributes to Hamlet's eventual downfall. On board the ship to England, Hamlet discovers Claudius' message sent by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet later explains: "I groped to discover them, [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] fulfilled my desire, touched their packet and finally withdrew their contents..