Rosencrantz And Guildenstern And Juxtaposition In Hamlet

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Recommended: Hamlet's mental state

In William Shakespeare’s play “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, though the protagonist Hamlet pretends to be mad as he seeks revenge for the murder of his father, he is suffering from depression and a barely contained rage towards the people closest to him as revealed in his treatment of Gertrude and Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Polonius and Claudius. The barely concealed rage he feels towards his mother, lover, friends and uncle leads to their death and his own. This bitterness towards everyone makes his conversations with other characters seem to be very cold, especially towards his mother, Gertrude, and Ophelia.
Hamlet’s behavior towards Ophelia and Gertrude shows his contempt and distrust of women. Though Hamlet …show more content…

Yet instead of comforting Hamlet in his time of sorrow, they seek to gain favor with Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius, the King. Both Guildenstern and Rosencrantz agree to Claudius’ request that they spy on Hamlet in order to glean what “unknown afflicts him” (1333). This betrayal is due to, as Guildenstern tells Hamlet, they are not the “very button” on “Fortune’s cap”, meaning that they are ambitious to gain wealth (1339). Hamlet angrily informs Guildenstern that he is not a “pipe” to “play upon” (1362). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to accompany Hamlet to England by order of Claudius where Hamlet is to be put to death. Hamlet finds the letters ordering his death. He changes the letters to have his former friends killed instead. Hamlet refuses to feel guilty for their deaths, he states, “They are not near my conscience” (1397). He convinces himself that they deserve their fate for their betrayal of him, yet, the greatest betrayal is that of Claudius.
Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius killed Hamlet’s father, “whored” his mother, and stole Hamlet’s crown, his “proper life” (1398). Confusing Polonius for “thy better”, Claudius, Hamlet kills him with little feeling of remorse (1367). After killing Polonius Hamlet advises Claudius to search for the hidden body of Polonius “i’the’other place”, essentially telling the King to go to hell

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