Hamlet and King Oedipus

Hamlet and King Oedipus

Hamlet and King Oedipus

The breaking or corruption of trust between the characters is central to the tragedy of hamlet. The tragic ending is fuelled by events that are in part affected due to a lack of trust between the various characters. Dishonesty and lack of trusty is a prominent aspect of Hamlet with almost each and very character being afflicted with this trait. It is either the unfolding of the plot or the actions of the people around a character which makes him or her resort to some form of deception. In fact, the entire play of hamlet portrays the negative consequences that can be incurred through the impact of deception on relationships. Relationships are in large affected due to the breaking of trust and eventually play a part in fuelling the climax of the play.

Lack of trust, or breakage or corruption of trust goes about as a rule in hamlet. Hamlet's father, the deceased king is betrayed by his own brother, Claudius who not only betrays his brother but the people of Denmark. Hamlet's mother too is guilty of having corrupted trust by having betrayed them memory of her husband. Hamlet suspects her as is evident in the following lines:

“Seems, madam! nay it is; I know not 'seems.'---------------------------------------------------------These but the trappings and the suits of woe.”

(1.2.2).

The ghost also laments how the relationship between him and his wife was also easily forgotten by Gertrude.

“Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, -------------------------------------------------------Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poorto those of mine!”

(1.5.9).

Ophelia too breaks trust by betraying her love for Hamlet and also Hamlet's love for her. This breakage on her part does not occur on account of any shortcoming in her character, but because she is fooled by the people surrounding her. Trust is also broken by characters like Guildenstern, Rosencrantz and Laertes who all betray Hamlet. The only relationship where trust is not broken or corrupted is the relationship between Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet appeals to Horatio earlier on in the play not to betray him by doing what others have done. Horatio keeps their relationship true by being a true friend till the end (Wilson, 2001).

Hamlet is a character which is the most complex of all Shakespearian characters. Suffering from inner torment and conflicts, he is driven to acts of recklessness which at times makes him untrustworthy in the eyes of the viewers. Although he is the protagonist, yet his major flaw is his inability to take actions according to his desires. This in turn results from his inability to trust others. In fact, he is not entirely guilty of not trusting others as it does not suggest any flaw in his personal character. Rather a young man who strongly suspects or is made to suspect by the Shakespearian ghost that his father was murdered by his uncle would indeed find it difficult to trust others. Suspicion, lack of trust and similar attitudes are displayed throughout the play by ...