Betrayal In Hamlet

Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” written in 1602 is a signature play written by Shakespeare. It deals with the supernatural, betrayal, treachery, murder and revenge all of which are components that Shakespeare successfully uses in numerous other plays that he authored.
In this analysis we will examine Shakespeare’s Hamlet and his characters thoughts as he finds out about the murder of his father from a specter, the betrayal by his father’s brother to usurp the throne that should have been Hamlet’s and marry his mother, Hamlet’s accidental slaying of Polonius, Hamlet’s rejection of and the suicide or accidental death of Ophelia to the climatic tragic last scene where, Hamlet, the King, the Queen and Ophelia’s brother

We are introduced to Hamlet in Act 1 Scene 2 where he exhibiting depression at the death of his father (Shakespeare 1087 -1088). He is careful in his banter with his mother and the King, but becomes more open in his lengthy lamentation (Shakespeare 1089). Act 1 Scene 4 takes us to the battlements with his friend Horatio and an officer, Marcellus who all witness the specter and it beckons to Hamlet alone to accompany him (Shakespeare 1097). At this point there is it is credible that since more than one witness has seen this specter that it was not an exclusive delusion that only Hamlet could see. The specter identifies itself to Hamlet that he is his father and that he was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle to gain his mother’s hand in marriage and the throne (Shakespeare 1099-1100). This begins to set the undertone for the events to follow and Shakespeare utilizes a supernatural mechanism to deliver to Hamlet information that he could not have otherwise

The king conspires with Laertes to avenge his father’s death and his sister’s estate which he blames on Hamlet (Shakespeare 1156-1157). In Act 4 Scene 7, Laertes tells the King he will put poison on his sword which would turn an ordinary minor flesh wound into a fatal injury (Shakespeare 1159). The King ups the conspiracy by promising to arrange the cup Hamlet will be drinking from to be poisoned as well (Shakespeare 1159). The King did not inform Hamlet’s mother about the poisoned drinks or the foil that had been dipped in poison and she drank from Hamlet’s cup (Shakespeare 1174). In the sparing between Hamlet and Laertes, they exchange blades as they struggle and Laertes is also poisoned at the same time Hamlet’s mother realizes she has been poisoned with the drink and dies (Shakespeare 1175). Laertes confesses the plot and points the blame at the King who Hamlet dispatches with the poisoned blade he is still wielding (Shakespeare 1175). In Act 5 Scene 2, Shakespeare wraps up all of the loose ends into a tidy conclusion with all of the members of the conspiracy dead and Hamlet cleared although dying (Shakespeare 1175). Hamlet’s death scene expresses his thoughts and justification for his actions (Shakespeare