ipl-logo

Hamlet Betrayal Essay

879 Words4 Pages

How far would you go to protect your own self-interests and wants? Would you go as far as murder? Maybe betraying those that are closest to you? In Shakespeare’s tragic play, the theme of betrayals is significantly essential to unfolding the plot. As the characters in the play constantly deceive each other and conspire secret plans against each other, Shakespeare is able to portray to the audience how their selfish desires lead to betrayal of those closest to them, which comes with an array of devastating consequences. Through the events of nefarious actions and deaths in Hamlet, Shakespeare argues how greedy human nature can lead to the tragedy of betrayals. To begin, in Act 1 of Hamlet, the audience is introduced to a ghost that reveals that …show more content…

Here the Ghost of King Hamlet speaks about his own death to his son, Hamlet, and provides the reader with details of how his brother, Claudius, poisoned him. Through this interaction, a betrayal between two blood brothers is seen. Claudius poisoned King Hamlet for the honor of becoming the new king, which displays the true characteristic of greed in Claudius. Furthermore, Hamlet learns that it was specifically Claudius who murdered King Hamlet, during his interaction with the ghost. In two short lines, the Ghost proclaims to Hamlet, “Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand / Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched” (I.V.74-75). The Ghost of King Hamlet confirms to young Hamlet that it was by King Hamlet’s brother’s hand that his life, wife, and crown were stolen. This portrays the greedy nature of Claudius even more through his immoral plan and action to betray one of the people closest to him. As Hamlet progresses, Hamlet directly speaks to his mother about her betrayal of King

Show More
Related
828 Words | 4 Pages

Although Hamlet is plotting to murder a king which is the highest form of treason any person could commit in his time, is made to seem like an honorable and justified action. Through the ghost of his father demanding that Hamlet avenge his untimely death by the hand of his brother, the audience disposes of this idea that plotting against and killing a king is treason. The audience understands Hamlets rage and desire for revenge and is encourages it although Claudius is the new king of Denmark and father to Hamlet. This betrayal Hamlet commits against his former uncle now his adoptive father would disgust the audience had it not been that Claudius was guilty of murdering Hamlets father and plotting to murder Hamlet. By having this double crossing it establishes how not even the bonds of family can quench the thirst for power and

Read More
621 Words | 3 Pages

Claudius doesn’t confess and puts on quite a show during the murder scene that one would be puzzled as to why no one could see past his fake, friendly exterior. Claudius failing to confess just illuminates his truly malicious spirit. The ghost is also a character that sparks many questions within the play. Hamlet himself questioned whether the ghost was actually his father or the devil in disguise, trying to tempt Hamlet in committing a crime just as wicked as his step-fathers. However, Hamlet quickly dismisses that thought and convinces himself he needs to murder Claudius for revenge.

Read More
1447 Words | 6 Pages

After the ghost and Hamlet come into contact, the spirit tells Hamlet the truth behind his suspicious death. Overcome by greed, Claudius wanted the throne for himself to sulk up the riches and treasures, which is what makes him act out on a plan to take over the throne by going into King Hamlet's quarters while he sleeps and then dripping poisonous fluid down his ear which then kills the king. After the Death of King Hamlet, Claudius then takes Hamlet's rightful spot on the throne and marries his brother's spouse Queen Gertrude. This information is critical to understanding how the events of greed and corruption came to be at the beginning of the story and how they unfold to affect the royal family and the royal court of Denmark. After hearing this information, Hamlet is distraught and panics; he recollects his thoughts, then decides to plan a way to avenge his father by pretending to be mad in front of the people around him, effectively fooling them.

Read More
442 Words | 2 Pages

King Hamlet’s greatest act came when he reappeared in Denmark as a ghost, and proclaimed to Hamlet “...Know this, noble youth: the serpent that stung your father’s life away now wears his crown!” (1.5.43-45). King Hamlet appears as a ghostly spirit, to tell the story of his murder to Hamlet. And because of this, Hamlet concocts a plan to kill Claudius to achieve revenge. Which he ultimately achieves in the end.

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

The tragedy Hamlet may best be recognized to reveal betrayal through all of the themes that occur in the play. The act of revenge could be interpreted as an action of betrayal, or madness causing a character to betray them. William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet revolves around the actions of betrayal by the friends and family of Hamlet. As in many of Shakespeare's plays, betrayal is a common aspect that is focused on in many play, as noted by Dr. Iti Roychowdhury.

Read More
218 Words | 1 Pages

In act one scene five Hamlet is with the ghost by himself and they begin finally speaking. The ghost tells Hamlet that he has been sent to hell for the sins he committed while living. The ghost also tells Hamlet that he was not killed in battle but murdered by his own brother Claudius. He tells Hamlet that Claudius snuck through the garden in his palace and made his way into his bedroom while he was sleeping he poured poison in his ear killing him and blames Claudius for his bad afterlife. The ghost wants Hamlet to avenge his death but he does not want him to go against his mother while doing so because he states that she is weak.

Read More
489 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout the works of William Shakespeare, betrayal is often a central theme. “Hamlet,” for instance, depicts a rather broken set of characters where betrayal is used against one another. The play connects this idea through a hasty marriage, deception between characters, and breaking the close knit bond between friends. The overall concept of betrayal contributes to a concept of irrationality resulting in broken minds and broken relationships.

Read More
1336 Words | 6 Pages

The new king, his uncle Claudius, has just married Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, yet he mentions “Hamlet our dear brother's death”. (Shakespeare 1.2.1). The situation sets the stage by starting with an absence of a father figure for Hamlet as well as his uncle marrying Hamlet's mother who was recently widowed. Shortly after this introduction, Hamlet is given word from his friends that a ghost that resembles his father has appeared which prompts the sorrowful character to seek answers. Outside the castle, Hamlet finds the apparition, who speaks about how Claudius is the one who murders him, and wants Hamlet to get revenge.

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

King Hamlet, the ghost, sets up Hamlet's downfall regarding betrayal by making him swear multiple times to seek revenge. Hamlet’s only goal is to mask the feeling of sorrow and grieving of his father by achieving revenge. Revenge however does not solve anything, it only creates more problems. Hamlet is betrayed by everyone and everything. Hamlet was betrayed by all members of his family, himself, and the world.

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

The ghost tells Hamlet who the real villain is, Claudius. Hamlet is outraged to find out that his father has been murder by his own brother who poured poison down his ear while he was asleep in his garden. Hamlet cries out “Oh my prophetic soul!” (1.5.40) Hamlet must seek revenge on Claudius for not only the murder but for also corrupting Denmark and for marrying his mother Gertrude, making Claudius Hamlet’s uncle daddy. As the ghost disappears at dawn Marcellus and Horatio arrive to where Hamlet is to find out what is going on, but Hamlet will not tell them and makes them swear to not tell anyone what they saw and that he might turn into a

Read More
1685 Words | 7 Pages

The Ghost, as well as being a focus of the play, kickstarts Hamlet’s revenge plot. Hamlet, as well as struggling with his father’s death and his own dark thoughts, struggles with how to go about his revenge. By killing Claudius, Hamlet will have fulfilled his father’s wishes and maintained his honor. Hamlet thinks that by completing his revenge, his life will have meaning again. However, he becomes more and more discontented with his task as his conscience makes him miserable until he can accomplish what his father wanted him to do.

Read More
924 Words | 4 Pages

The ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother Claudius when he was sleeping in the garden by dumping poison into his killing him. King Hamlet wants Hamlet to take avenge his father 's death (Act 1, Scene 5 - Act 2, Scene 1).” Hamlet 's struggles with his own family happens when Hamlet

Read More
1108 Words | 5 Pages

Betrayal leads to the downfall of every character in the play. Shakespeare has showed what betrayal can lead to. It destroys and kills the whole family. Betrayal is a result of jealousy, greed, lust, quest for power, in the play. Human emotions are something very delicate especially love.

Read More
397 Words | 2 Pages

Hamlet is a popular play by William Shakespeare that tells of a prince named Hamlet who is very upset over his father’s death. Shakespeare describes Hamlet and his feelings towards his father’s passing. Shakespeare also describes, through Hamlet’s father’s ghost, how Hamlet’s uncle Claudius betrayed Hamlet’s father by killing him to become king. Once Hamlet hears of this he is furious with Claudius and wants to seek revenge. In Act 1 of Hamlet Shakespeare begins developing the theme that betrayal is swiftly followed by revenge by using the play’s events and characters.

Read More
810 Words | 4 Pages

Along with avenging his death, the Ghost asks Hamlet to perform another task and says, “But howsoever thou pursuest this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught” (1.5.84-85). The Ghost’s assurance of Gertrude’s safety appeals to Hamlet because Hamlet loves his mother and shows willingness to protect her. However, if the Ghost had said negative remarks about Gertrude, he would not follow the Ghost’s wishes. Furthermore, this request by the Ghost makes Hamlet emphasize family throughout the play, and it also fuels his revenge for his father. Also, the Ghost tells Hamlet how his brother betrayed him in order to become king by stating, “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown” (1.5.39-40).

Read More

More about Hamlet Betrayal Essay

Open Document