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Friendship and Loyalty in Hamlet

 

            In the exposition, deceased King Hamlet's brother, Claudius, marries his widow, Gertrude, in order to receive the crown. His entrance in young Hamlet's life commences a wrath in Hamlet that cannot be easily subdued. Hamlet's anger shows when he says, "O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew She married. O, most wicked dexterity to incestuous sheets"" (I.ii.133-64). Hamlet's immense frustration with Claudius's decision to marry Gertrude gets to the point where he wishes death upon himself. Claudius, Hamlet's foil, has no idea of how dreadful his mistake was. Later, Horatio enters and explains to Hamlet that he, Marcellus, and Bernardo have encountered the ghost of Hamlet's father. Hamlet responds, "If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it. I pray you all, if you have hither to concealed this sight, let it be tenable in your silence still. I'll visit you"" (I.ii.265-74). Hamlet wants to speak to the ghost and offers to keep watch with Horatio and the others. Although Hamlet struggles to deal with his uncle replacing his father, his confidant, Horatio, helps him take his mind off of the negatives by displaying brotherly attributes to him.
             Hamlet completely changes in the climax of the play. His mindset is no longer quirky and imaginative, but rather desolate and suicidal. Hamlet solemnly utters, "To be or not to be "that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. To die, to sleep"" (III.i.64-77) In this melancholy soliloquy, Hamlet, his own antagonist, grapples with the vital choice to either live or die. Either he can persevere through everything life throws at him or he can end it all the pain and suffering at once by taking away his own life. .
             In addition, the play drastically changes when Hamlet's devious plan springs into action. "You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife.


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