A son revenges the murder of his father. This is the briefest description of the plot of Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays. However, the tragedy explores many more ideas than just revenge, including death, love, family, politics, deception, the meaning of life, the impossibility of certainty, the complexity of action, the abilities of drama, misogyny, madness, religion, competing worldviews, loyalty, sex, gender and friendship. Even though friendship is one of the most important parts of everyone’s life, it is often forgotten about when summing up one of Shakespeare’s tragedies. The theme of friendship, with the exception of Timon of Athens, often seems to be secondary. The first associations with Romeo and Juliet are forbidden love and tragic death, with Macbeth they are madness and ambition, with Othello they are love and prejudices, and with Hamlet they are revenge, madness and lies.
However, the theme of friendship must have been somehow essential to William Shakespeare, since he completely invented a friend not only for dramatic purposes but also for moral support for his tragic hero. The origin of the characters Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and their roles in the play Hamlet will be examined later. Furthermore, this paper aims to put the often-forgotten motive of friendship in Hamlet, Shakespeare’s longest play and one of the most powerful and influential works of world literature, in the spotlight. It will give an overview of the Elizabethan understanding of friendship, portray Horatio’s and Hamlet’s friendship, examine the possible reasons for Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s betrayal – both are former friends of Hamlet - and answer the question how similar these friendships are to modern ones.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Shakespeare's Sources
- 3 Elizabethan Friendship
- 4 The Motive of Friendship in Hamlet
- 4.1 Hamlet's Trust in Horatio
- 4.2 Horatio's Qualities as a Friend
- 4.3 Equality in Hamlet's and Horatio's Friendship
- 4.4 Hamlet, Horatio and the Ghost
- 4.5 Hamlet's and Horatio's Mentality
- 4.6 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's Betrayal
- 5 Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to highlight the often-overlooked theme of friendship in Shakespeare's Hamlet, examining its significance within the play's broader context. It explores the nature of friendship as understood during the Elizabethan era and analyzes specific friendships within the play, contrasting them with modern conceptions.
- The Elizabethan understanding of friendship
- The friendship between Hamlet and Horatio
- The betrayal of Hamlet by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
- The role of friendship in shaping Hamlet's actions and decisions
- Comparison of the depicted friendships to modern relationships
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by briefly outlining the plot of Hamlet and emphasizing the often-underappreciated role of friendship within the play's complex tapestry of themes, including revenge, death, love, and politics. It highlights the unusual creation of a friend for Hamlet, explicitly for dramatic and moral support, contrasting this with the secondary role of friendship in other Shakespearean tragedies. The chapter establishes the paper's central objective: to examine the significance of friendship in Hamlet, considering its portrayal within an Elizabethan context and comparing it with modern interpretations. The introduction effectively frames the subsequent analysis of Hamlet's relationships with Horatio, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.
2 Shakespeare's Sources: This chapter delves into the origins of the play's plot and characters, tracing its development from the legend of Amleth as recounted by Saxo Grammaticus and François de Belleforest. It discusses the possible influence of a lost Elizabethan play, The Ur-Hamlet by Thomas Kyd. The chapter particularly focuses on the evolution of the character of Horatio, comparing his portrayal in the source materials with Shakespeare's creation. While a figure resembling Horatio exists in earlier versions, Shakespeare significantly expands upon this character, crafting him as a loyal and intellectual companion. This analysis contrasts this development with the treatment of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, whose initial roles are more rudimentary but are significantly enhanced by Shakespeare, imbuing them with a more complex history and motivations. The analysis ultimately highlights Shakespeare’s creative freedom in shaping these characters and the dramatic significance of his creative choices.
Keywords
Hamlet, Shakespeare, friendship, betrayal, Horatio, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Elizabethan era, loyalty, trust, tragedy, dramatic structure, source materials, character development.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Hamlet and Friendship
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper focuses on the theme of friendship in Shakespeare's Hamlet, exploring its significance within the play's context and comparing Elizabethan and modern understandings of friendship.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the Elizabethan understanding of friendship, the contrasting friendships between Hamlet and Horatio, and Hamlet's betrayal by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The paper also examines how friendship shapes Hamlet's actions and decisions, comparing the depicted friendships to modern relationships.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into five chapters: an introduction, a chapter on Shakespeare's sources, a chapter on Elizabethan friendship, a chapter dedicated to the motive of friendship in Hamlet (with sub-sections analyzing specific relationships), and a conclusion. It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
How does the paper analyze Shakespeare's sources?
The paper traces the development of the play's plot and characters from the legend of Amleth, discussing the influence of Saxo Grammaticus, François de Belleforest, and possibly The Ur-Hamlet by Thomas Kyd. It specifically analyzes the evolution of Horatio and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's characters, comparing their portrayal in source materials to Shakespeare's creation.
What specific friendships are analyzed in detail?
The paper extensively analyzes the friendship between Hamlet and Horatio, exploring Hamlet's trust in Horatio, Horatio's qualities as a friend, and the equality in their relationship. It also contrasts this with the betrayal of Hamlet by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
What is the significance of the Elizabethan context?
The paper emphasizes understanding the Elizabethan conception of friendship to fully appreciate the nuances of the relationships depicted in Hamlet. This contextual understanding provides a framework for contrasting these relationships with modern interpretations of friendship.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The paper aims to highlight the often-overlooked theme of friendship in Hamlet, examining its significance within the play's broader context and comparing it with modern conceptions of friendship.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include Hamlet, Shakespeare, friendship, betrayal, Horatio, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Elizabethan era, loyalty, trust, tragedy, dramatic structure, source materials, and character development.
What is included in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide concise overviews of each chapter's content, highlighting key arguments and analyses presented within each section of the paper.
Where can I find more information on this topic?
Further research could delve deeper into Elizabethan social structures, the historical context of friendship, comparative analyses of other Shakespearean tragedies, and critical interpretations of Hamlet focusing on friendship and betrayal.
- Quote paper
- Paulina Pietsch (Author), 2018, Trust and Betrayal. The Motive of Friendship in Hamlet, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/457710
