In the tragedy of Hamlet written by the great English playwright William Shakespeare, it tells a story of a son seeking revenge for his father’s murder, but his madness gets everyone else killed. In the story, the theme of loyalty plays a critical role shaping the story and also the main character, Hamlet. Three people have significant influences on him: Gertrude’s disloyalty causes Hamlet’s madness; the betrayal of his old friends pushes him on the journey of revenge; but Horatio’s loyalty helps him to make wise decisions. As the story unfolds, Hamlet has already been facing a lot, especially his mother’s disloyalty to him and his father. Being the prince of Denmark, Hamlet is supposed to have a luxurious and relaxed life. Instead, he …show more content…
Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Hamlet went to university together, and they used to be friends. However, the friends decide to be on the opposite side: “That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court some little time so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus that, opened, lies within our remedy” (Shakespeare II.ii.13-18). King Claudius asks the old buddies of Hamlet to come over and figure out what is happening with him, but what he is really trying to say is to let them spy on him. Later, on their journey to England, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern even deliver a letter in order to kill Hamlet, as Hamlet said: “With—ho!—such bugs and goblins in my life That, on the supervise (no leisure bated, no, not to stay the grinding of the ax. My head should be struck off” (Shakespeare V.ii.23-26). Hamlet must be very upset to find out his friends have been watching over him and even going to send him to death. He decides to revenge them all and ask Denmark to kill them both. Hamlet is no longer merciful like before, struggling whether he should revenge on his uncle, Claudius. Old friends' deceit strengthens his attitude against his