William Hoffman
AP
English Literature and Composition
Ms.Nichole Wilson
14 November 2013
I have read and understand the sections in the Student Handbook regarding Mason
High School's Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title
page of my paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the
process of completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or
plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the
possible consequences of the act, which could include a "0" on the
paper, as well as an "F" as a final grade in the course.
Digital
Signature: Will Hoffman
Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray
a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may
betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of
betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and
show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
In “Hamlet” William Shakespeare internalizes the
theme of betrayal in the character of Hamlet; by the paradox in his consciousness,
the closer he gets to killing Claudius the more he has to justify himself psychologically.
However, this continuous charade wears him thin; the once falsified madness eats its own.
Hamlet
was prompted into his eventual madness by the acts of his mother, Gertrude, and
the discovery of Hamlet Senior’s true undoing—the aura of which eventually
spreading to the kingdom—crippling Denmark. The decision of Gertrude to act “within
a month” (1.2.153) in remarrying tore Hamlet from his mother, he was alone.
This schizophrenic outlook was the first sign of his eventually spiral into
madness, the source in his mind of the “unweeded garden” (1.2.134) that had replaced
the monarchy. In an act of foreshadowing
Shakespeare references the great chain of being “O God! A beast, that wants discourse
of reason” (1.2.149). By pointing out that the chain’s order has been broken
the story must concede to the restoration of the chain. Furthermore, the Ghost (per
say) of Hamlet Senior came to Hamlet claiming that Claudius poisoned him for
the crown. Now hamlet is crazed, further descending the staircase of madness.
Shakespeare
convolutes Hamlet into losing sight of his purpose, he continuously has to
justify himself and work against the edging feeling in the back of his mind;
from this the juxtaposition of action versus inaction arises. In the “To be or not to be” soliloquy Hamlet
argues whether “’tis nobler in the mind to suffer” or “to die:to sleep” (3.2.64-60).
The importance of which can be explained by his situation. Caught on the slope
of revenge he is having difficulty deciding if he should end his own life, or
converge on the Ghost Hamlet Senior’s wish for retribution. Additionally we see
this duality in Hamlet’s physiology amount again in the repentance scene. Again,
Hamlet is in battle with his own consciousness, “Up, sword; and know thou a
more horrid hent” (3.3.88). Hamlet has relinquished his consciousness to the
multiplicity of his thoughts; he is scatterbrained, battling for control of his
own judgment.
The
ruse Hamlet’s own thoughts play lends his outbreak from sanity to madness to be
based on the corruption of his judgment. Shakespeare concentrates his efforts
on the quantification of Hamlet’s madness not to dilute the plot, but to
explain the duality in his consciousness. In doing so he makes key elements
such as catalyst of Hamlets madness, disruption in the chain of being,
highlighting Hamlets sense of hopelessness, and multiple themes of betrayal
more evident.
Works Cited
Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1996. DVD.
Shakespeare, William, and John Crowther. No Fear Shakespeare: Hamlet. New York: SparkNotes, 2003. Print.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. London: Methuen, 1982. Print.
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