How Is Betrayal Justified In Hamlet

The act of betraying family and friends is one of the cruelest acts any human can commit. Making a purposeful effort to harm and turn against those closest to you goes against all social and religious constructs. However, people still do it, knowing that betrayal inflicts only pain and suffering for both the betrayed and the betrayer. In Hamlet familial betrayal is what sets off the whole play-The murder of a king by his own brother. Familial betrayal is the most sinister because it comes from those that they trust the most and should be most unexpected because of the bonds of family. It is betrayal in its most personal form. Hamlet is not perceived as the betrayer throughout the play. His betrayal of his family is made to seem justified because of the wrongs done against him by his family. His betrayal is against Claudius, Gertrude, God and The People of Denmark. Through Hamlet’s point of view, the audience believes that Claudius deserves to be murdered, that Gertrude deserves every single unkind word said

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