Betrayal Of Friendship In Hamlet

Friendship is based on mutual respect and trust. When a friendship is betrayed it is one of the worst feelings that people can experience. Friendships that last from childhood through old age are some of the best in the world. Friendships that come about in times of adversity can be even more important as the people suffering the adversity have no one else who understands their situation as well and that creates an incredibly strong bond. When people, who have experienced these types of friendships, are betrayed after having been so close for so long or in extreme circumstances, the betrayal seems all the more horrible. Betrayal of friendship occurs in both the novel Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden and in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Those

Polonius is willing to spy on pretty much anyone so that he can knows more details about those close to him. He spies on his son Laertes and is willing to slander him without giving it a second thought when he tells Reynaldo, “to make inquiry of his behaviour” (II.i.3-4). Polonius wants Reynaldo to both spy on Laertes and to hurt his image, so that he can learn about his son’s character. Claudius betrays Gertrude by not telling her about the poisoned cup soon enough. He does not want her to drink the poison but she doesn’t know about it until it is too late, “Gertrude, do not drink. I will, mu lord; I pray you pardon me. [Aside] It is the poison’d cup: it is too late” (V.ii.282-284). Claudius does not want Gertrude to drink the poison but is too slow to stop her since she didn’t know from beforehand. Claudius’s biggest betrayal is how he became king. As he confesses while he prays, “A brother’s murder. Pray can I not, though inclination be as sharp as will: my stronger guilt defeats my strong intent” (III.iii.39-41). Claudius is admitting to himself that he betrayed his family murdered his brother in order to become king. Claudius and Polonius both meet their demise after countless betrayals of those who trusted