William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet remains today as a significant piece of literature. The tale of the prince’s search to avenge his father resonates with the subjects found throughout the play. Today, the same themes are uncovered in countless songs. One such song, Ronnie Winter’s False Pretense, has several of the topics seen in Hamlet, such as disloyalty and insanity. Hence, the common themes that the works both have are betrayal, hurt, and the madness of the characters showcasing their pain to the world. In Hamlet and False Pretense, the characters each struggle with a betrayal that befalls them. Hamlet is quick to note his once childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have turned against him, saying, “[There’s letters sealed; and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged…” understanding that he can no longer rely on them (Shakespeare 3.4 225-226). Likewise, in False Pretense, the song’s narrator deals with a betrayal from someone close to them. The narrator’s disbelief is shown through their statement of “The world’s got a funny …show more content…
In the play, Hamlet tells Horatio and Marcellous that “(As I perchance hereafter shall think to meet to put an antic disposition on…)” saying that he will act unlike himself (Shakespeare 1.5 191-192). In the song, the narrator tells “(But) you were wrong and I’m laughing right in your face” not caring how their actions come off as. Besides this, Hamlet also demonstrates madness when he says “I am but mad north-north west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw…” as he is saying he can turn this madness on and off (Shakespeare 2.2 402-403). The False Pretense narrator tells “So play the game until you run out/ And play the game into my hand.” The narrator is saying something that does not quite make sense. Altogether, the underlying madness in the two incorporates why they act out on their