Hamlet Act One Media Assignment By Marianne Zoric and Jordan Gowland: Theme Betrayal

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Prince Hamlet is betrayed not only by his Uncle King Claudius for killing King Hamlet.   Prince Hamlet also feels betrayed by his mother Queen Gertrude whom he feels did not appropriately morun for the death of his father. Hamlet also feels betrayed by both his mother and uncle for illegally marrying each other and being incestious only two months after King Hamlet's death. 

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The ghost first appears in Act One.  The ghost is the spirit of King Hamlet.  He tells Hamlet of King Claudius' betrayal to him and the people of Denmark.  The appearance of ghosts or spirits in Shakespearean plays always symbolize mis-fortune to come in the near or distant future.

Betrayal

 

 

1 : to lead astray; especially : SEDUCE


2 : to deliver to an enemy by treachery


3 : to fail or desert especially in time of need


4 a : to reveal unintentionally

b : SHOW, INDICATE

c : to disclose in violation of confidence


intransitive senses : to prove false



Hamlet Act One Media Project Website
 
Theme of Act One Betrayal
 
Presented By Marianne Zoric and Jordan Gowland

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During act one Hamlet meets the ghost who is the spirit of his dead father. The arrival of ghosts or spirits in Shakesperan plays symbolize misfortune to come in the near future.  From the ghost or spirit of his father Hamlet learns that his father King Hamlet was murdered by his Uncle Claudius. King Hamlet was murdered while he was sleeping King Claudius put poison in his ear.  Claudius is now the unrightful King of Denmark.  Hamlet feels betrayed  by Claudius who illegitimately staked claim to the throne by killing an innoncent man.  Hamlet also feels a sense of deception or betrayal against his mother who wed her brother in law Claudius two months after King Hamlets death.  Prince Hamlet feels that Queen Gertrude has not given King Hamlet a proper grievance period in his fathers memory.  In Hamlet's eyes she should not have married Claudius and waited at least six months to even think about another man. 

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The marriage of Queen Gertrude and King Claudius is a form of betrayal in the first act.  Also, the death of King Hamlet is another form betrayal in the play. King Hamlet was killed by his own brother .  Claudius at King Hamlet's expense illegally took over the throne.

The theme of betrayal well suits the first act of the play, because Hamlet is feeling  decieved by his Uncle King Claudius and darling mother Queen Gertrude. 

Hamlet in act one is feeling deeply distressed he wants to kill his mother and uncle for the deception and betrayal they have done on his dead father's memory.

Hamlet feels betrayed on one more than one instance in Act one.