Hamlet Group

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naif
naif
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the analysis of betrayal in Hamlet?

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Posted by naif on Thursday August 13, 2009 at 12:14 PM and tagged with betrayal, themes.

Answers:


  1. jagtig

    Betrayal is the rule in Hamlet.

    Claudius betrays his brother. Gertrude betrays her husband's memory, at least. Ophelia betrays Hamlet's love for her, following the lead of her father. Rosencrantz and Guilderstern betray Hamlet. Laertes betrays Hamlet. Osric does the same.

    The only true friendship is that of Horatio for Hamlet. Hamlet has told him not to betray him through following the crowd that will certainly call him mad, and Horatio holds true to the end.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_3.html#anchor213392

    These lines indicate either an intent to feign madness or an impending and looming suspicion of the same. That is, Hamlet feels he is becoming mad, and asks his friend not to join with the others in the typical treatment afforded the insane then and now, quips and jibes, insincerity, etc.

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    Posted by jagtig on Friday August 14, 2009 at 10:11 AM


  2. jagtig

    Claudius betrays his brother.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_7.html#anchor190102

    Gertrude betrays her husband's memory, at least.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_1.html#anchor276317

    Polonius betrays his son Laertes, at least some would say so.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_3.html#anchor221232

    Ophelia betrays Hamlet's love for her, following the lead of her father.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_3.html#anchor257232

    Her father's lead:

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_2.html#anchor224089

    Rosencrantz and Guilderstern betray Hamlet.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_7.html#anchor181653

    Laertes betrays Hamlet.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_9.html#anchor230565

    Osric does the same.

    http://www.tailsntales.com/eng/sha/ham/tex/sel_10.html#anchor272494

    These links will take you to quotable lines showing the betrayals to be very real, as far as the text of the play goes.

    Good luck, John

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    Posted by jagtig on Saturday August 15, 2009 at 11:22 AM