How does Shakespeare present the contrast between honesty and hypocrisy in the first half of the play? Shakespeare clearly presents the theme hypocrisy through the character: Polonius. During the play, although Polonius gives advice to those around him such as his son Laertes and daughter Ophelia, he goes against these values himself, therefore portraying him as a hypocrite, of which is evident in Act 1 Scene 3: “Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought