hamlet essay

“Hamlet”
The book “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare is a symphony of betrayal. The play is about the revenge of a prince after his family members including the king, King Hamlet, were murdered by his uncle, Claudius, so that he could inherit the throne as well as the wives of his kinsmen. The play advances when the young king finally kills Claudius and manages to take back the thrown of his father. Yet he still passes on. "To be betrayed by one’s own kin is unforgivable and one must get revenge." Betrayal makes its way into many of Shakespeare works. “Hamlet” is no exception. The betrayal in “Hamlet” Causes an entire kingdom to fall into ruin. This can be seen when Hamlet’s mother Gertrude betrays her late husband Hamlet Senior and remarries to Claudius in an incestuous manner. Then there is Claudius himself, who Betrays hamlet. Although Hamlet isn’t an Angel either, after finally getting his revenge he puts Denmark in a state of dismay, Betrayal of all.
The first arguable piece of information is Gertrude’s incestuous acts. Since Gertrude remarries only three months after Hamlet senior dies, this can be seen as her betraying hamlet senior and their marriage. This is supported when Gertrude tells hamlet to stop wearing depressing colours (Black) and to stop mourning over his dead father (implying that she didn’t really care about Hamlet Senior). Now let’s reinforce the fact that Gertrude only waited 3 months to remarry, this may be because she was already secretly in a relationship with Claudius while Hamlet senior was still alive. Gertrude was nothing but if a power hungry, incestuous being who would betray anyone for in which she seeks.
Now what about Gertrude’s new husband, Claudius, he constantly betrays hamlet in a battle for power and love. Evidence of this is when Claudius kills hamlet’s father for the throne and his wife, setting hamlet into insanity and a deep grief. Or when Claudius sends Hamlet off to England, but with a note to the king of England saying “We are both of power, and it would be kind favour if you could kill hamlet” (Short in my own words form.) Claudius even get’s Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, his friends, to spy on hamlet. Hamlet can’t even have friends without Claudius getting into the mix... In the end Claudius would get rid of his own nephew just to have power, what a lustful man.
Hamlet the main protagonist is no shy of the betrayal, he goes to avenge his father’s death, and by doing so he betrays his kingdom and every single citizen. By killing Claudius to avenge his father he let’s fortinbras take over Denmark with ease, betraying all of his citizens. He get’s his mother killed by letting her drink the poisoned drink, which was meant for him. He kill’s Polonius, which get’s Ophelia to commit suicide, and then hamlet murders Laertes, effectively killing a whole family. Hamlet may have been on the receiving end for a lot of betrayal, but he still dishes out a lot.
In the end even the mighty protagonist betrays people. Hamlet is a tragic play set in Denmark; Hamlet is one man's interpretation of both real and feigned insanity. William Shakespeare, (The author) explores betrayal throughout the play. Hamlet’s mother betrays king hamlet, Claudius betrays hamlet, and hamlet betrays everyone. “Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.”