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Farukh Hussain
Hamlet Essay: Literary Analysis Paper- Betrayal
Eaton Block 4
September 29, 2012
Shakespeare thought that the act of betrayal was a huge threat to ones good deeds. In
Hamlet he sought out to emphasize how cruel and evil betrayal really was, and how it can really
bite back at you with revenge. When you betray someone it is like stabbing them in the back.
You give up your honest towards them and they really lose all amounts of respect for you in
return. Betraying someone can lead to a miserable life for the one who committed the sinful act
because naturally revenge will take its course. In Hamlet, Shakespeare was not trying to make
young Hamlet get revenge on his fathers death, but to expose the truth about it to everyone,
When you betray a person, he or she will seek out to expose you in any way possible, whether it
happens through revenge or not.
The main act of betrayal in Hamlet was when Claudius betrayed King Hamlet and
murdered him with poison. Claudius had always had bad intentions toward his brother and his
lust for King Hamlets wife, Gertrude, was what ultimately caused him to murder his brother. I
believe that Shakespeare was trying to show that betrayal can be so crude and pure evil that even
someone from your own blood, in this case King Hamlets brother, can betray you in the most
cruel way, which was ultimatelymurder. In the play, the ghost of King Hamlet said, Now
listen, Hamlet. Everyone was told that a poisonous snake bit me when I was sleeping in the
orchard. But in fact, thats a lie thats fooled everyone in Denmark. You should know, my noble
son, the real snake that stung your father is now wearing his crown. (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act,
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scene 5). This quote reveals that Claudius was the obvious murderer of King Hamlet, the real
King of Denmark. Betrayal was a pivotal part of Claudius plan to take over the Danish thrown.
Another huge act of betrayal that occurred in the play was Gertrude also betraying King
Hamlet by marrying his brother Claudius. Not only did Gertrude marry Claudius, but she did it
within weeks of King Hamlets funeral. Its like she had no love or sympathy for him anymore.
Once he was gone she just moved on so easily. Hamlet recognized that behavior quickly and
thats why he despised his mother so much after his fathers death. Though, the ghost of King
Hamlet told Hamlet not to do anything to his mother and let her be, she will go to heaven.
Hamlet obeyed. Gertrude technically was innocent and she had not done anything wrong. She
was sort of clueless. I think that Shakespeare enacted the ghost to say this to Hamlet because he
wanted to show that betrayal could also happen through innocence. It doesnt necessarily have to
be implied. In the play, Gertrude says, What have I done that you dare to talk to me so rudely?
(Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, scene 4) This quote shows just how innocent and confused
Gertrude is to the mere fact that she betrayed her first husband in King Hamlet, and married his
brother. I believe Shakespeare was trying to show that betrayal can happen out of innocence also,
it doesnt have to be intended for you to hurt someone like that.
My last example of betrayal from the play Hamlet is how Hamlet himself betrays his true
love, Ophelia. Hamlet betrays Ophelia when he tries to play mad and tells her that she was lying
about those love letters he sent to her, which was actually true. He told her that he used to love
her but not anymore. He said some cruel things to her also. Though in his heart Hamlet loved
Ophelia and wanted to be with her. Though, when Hamlet killed her father Polonius, Ophelia
went insane and had no one there to comfort her and make her feel worthy anymore. Hamlet
betrayed Ophelia by not being with her at the time she needed him the most. Yes, he was away in
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England but instead of trying his best to not go he went anyway to try to escape Claudius plans
to kill him there. Hamlet should have been downright honest to Ophelia and try to win her over
even with her fathers presence. Thats how strong love can be. Instead, I believe Hamlet
betrayed Ophelia and thats what killed her inside the most. Poor girl. In the play, Claudius says
First her father was killed, then your son was taken awaybecause of his own violent actions.
The people are confused and spreading nasty rumors about Poloniuss death, and I was a fool to
bury him in a hurry, without a proper state funeral. Poor Ophelia has been robbed of her sanity
(Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, scene 5). This quote states that Ophelia has gone mad because not
only has her father died, but her true love Hamlet is gone too, because of his selfish actions. I
believe in this act, Shakespeare was trying to emphasize that not only can the good guy be the
one committing betrayal, but it can come out of love. Hamlet did love Ophelia to death, but his
actions did not fulfill the need to be with her when she needed him most.
All in all, the consequences of betrayal can be very harsh and heartbreaking. The play of
Hamlet was a very good example of that. I really do believe that whenever you betray someone,
and it doesnt matter how it came about, that you will be exposed of it. When you betray a
person, he or she will seek out to expose you in any way possible, whether it happens through
revenge or not. Hamlet was a great play to study upon and watch, and the act of betrayal was
well played out in it. It really makes you think twice about committing this horrific deed in real
life.