Explain the significance of Claudius' quote to a theme in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "...this pearl is thine."

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, in the last
act, Claudius and Laertes have made arrangements for a an afternoon of "sword play" to
be carried out as a form of entertainment. It is to be a civilized meeting—a friendly
activity. However, Laertes is looking to avenge his father's death, and Claudius has
encouraged him to take Hamlet's life.

At the start of the
play, Claudius seemed relatively benign (except for the fact that we know he is a
murderer), but as the plot starts to accelerate, he begins to manipulate those around
him to bring Hamlet to his death. The King orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to escort
Hamlet to England; they carry a request from Claudius to England's king to execute
Hamlet. Hamlet changes the message, so that his escorts are executed instead. To
Claudius' surprise and annoyance, Hamlet returns home. Claudius makes his plans with
Laertes so that Hamlet will be cut with a poisoned sword, thus bringing about Hamlet's
end.

However, to be certain that Hamlet dies, Claudius also
has wine at his throne. At a break in the "game," Claudius drops a pearl in a cup of
wine, saying to Hamlet:

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Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is
thine;

Here's to thy health.
(V.ii.283-284)

The King puts
a pearl in the cup ostensibly to show his faith in Hamlet's ability to win, and to
reward his stepson—at least this is how he plays the audience that is gathered there to
watch. However, the pearl is poisoned. Claudius is desperate to see Hamlet dead, so he
has arranged a backup plan in case Laertes is unable to poison Hamlet. Hamlet refuses
the drink, wanting to stay clear-headed as he and Laertes "fight." However, Gertrude
reaches for the cup to toast to her son. Claudius tells her not to drink, but he is not
forceful enough, and Gertrude is poisoned instead.

When
Claudius says, "This pearl is thine," I always assume that literally he is saying so as
if to bestow a gift on Hamlet. However, I believe he is thinking, "This pearl is meant
for you, to see you dead." Because the pearl itself is seemingly
innocuous, it would appear to everyone to simply be a gift. That it is
not, supports the theme of appearance vs reality (or "reality vs
illusion").

We have seen this theme throughout the play.
When Hamlet pretends to be insane when he it suits him, he appears
mad, but the reality is that he is trying to garner information in order to see if the
Ghost is honest, and if so, to avenge Old Hamlet's
death.

When Ophelia speaks to Hamlet, it might seem to the
average onlooker that they are merely exchanging pleasantries, however everything Hamlet
says will be relayed back to Polonius and the King. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pretend
to be Hamlet's concerned friends, but everything they do is for the King, with no
concern for anyone but themselves. In the last scene of the play, Claudius seems
supportive of his "son." Laertes seems willing to put away the bad blood between them,
but it is an act. All of these situations are examples of the theme of
appearance vs reality.

The pearl
seems like a reward, but it is actually a deadly "weapon," killing
first Gertrude and then Claudius.