Shakespeare Analytical Essay

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Jackelyn Justiniano
Mr. Collis
English III
January 2, 2014

Agonizing Betrayal

In all the plays of Williams Shakespeare, there is a hero, a main character whom changes major things in the setting, because they are close related to a royal house, which makes them very noble. Hamlet and Macbeth were two dying heroes, so some may think. Further as you acknowledge that these well meant deeds, almost always leads to demise. In his famous tragedies Hamlet and Macbeth, Shakespeare shows the appeal of betrayal and do to the fact that Hamlet’s uncle and Macbeth, both killed those in their way and betrayed the trust of the people they held dearly. There are many examples of betrayal in the play Hamlet. A comparison of the love relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet and Gertrude and Claudius, illustrates betrayal, selfishness and lack of love that causes the downfall of these relationships. Claudius is the King of Denmark and he will do anything to stay that way, which makes him think of the evilest things to do. His wife Gertrude loves her son Hamlet and Claudius knows that. In order to stay king he must please Gertrude, therefore he pretends to love Hamlet in front of Gertrude but behind her back, he plots to murder Hamlet. In the play Claudius says,
I will work him
To an exploit, now ripe in my devise,
Under the which he shall not choose but fall.
And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,
But even his mother shall uncharge the practice
And call it accident (IV.vii.62-66).
Gertrude's trust is betrayed by Claudius at that moment because Gertrude believes that Claudius loves Hamlet, when in fact, he despises him and wishes death upon Hamlet. In Macbeth the first scene of the first act, three witches plan their next meeting in which they will encounter Macbeth. In the play the three witches chant "fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air" (I.i.11-12). The three evil witches predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and even King of Scotland. Macbeth ignored their prophecies, but after he was promoted to Thane of Cawdor for his brave fight in the war, Macbeth wonders if he could become king, and then his ambition takes over. Up until this point, sympathy is lost, as Macbeth takes a turn for the worst, obeying to his wife and betraying everyone he ever loved so dear. Claudius is not the only character that betrays in the play Hamlet. Hamlet makes Ophelia believe that he loves her for a long time, until one day he tells her things that break her heart. Because Hamlet suspects that someone is listening to his conversation with Ophelia, he acts like a lunatic and says cruel things to Ophelia. In the play he says "virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not” (III.i.19-21). All the promises he had made to her before became a lie. She felt betrayed because the one she loved had abandoned her. Macbeth enters during this scene along with Banquo, arriving from a victorious battle. He uses the motif to describe the day as "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" (I.iii.38). When Macbeth encounters the witches, they give him two predictions. One is that he will become the Thane of Cawdor, and then the king of Scotland. After hearing this, Macbeth immediately begins to plan his methods of obtaining these positions, including the murder of the King. Because of this, it may be assumed that he has thought of such actions prior to the meeting. This is an example of what was once fair, a loyal and noble of Scotland has become foul, deceitful, and an ambitious traitor. Hamlet and Claudius show various similarities, but also have differences. Such as, both men contain the love for the queen, Gertrude. This love may be unlike between the two, but they both feel deeply for the woman in their life. Hamlet’s love for his mother changes as the truth is slowly revealed. He learns more of his mother's ignorance and lack of experience, wisdom, and judgment to the point
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