In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the character of Hamlet has many relationships with all characters. The theme of relationships is very strong in this play. A relationship is an association between two or more people. Hamlet has many of these associations with , Claudius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Many of his relationships are just and unjust according to the character's feelings. The relationship between Claudius and Hamlet had many hidden meanings. The first time that Hamlet insults Claudius when someone else is around is when Claudius was supposed to help Hamlet cheer up. "A little more than kin, and less than kind" (Act 1, Scene II, Line 65) is what Hamlet said and at that point in time was very insulting. Act 3, had a play about a king getting poisoned. Claudius, who was watching this play, felt guilt for killing his brother, King Hamlet, and had to leave. Hamlet finally realizing that his father's ghost was telling the truth and went and found Claudius. Claudius was praying and so Hamlet felt that he could not have revenge for his father because of the act he was doing. Hamlet also needed to be on his own deathbed in order to finally get angry enough to kill Claudius. Hamlet's final relation with Claudius was completely just even though it took his own life to finish it. Ophelia, displaying once again her lack of regard for herself and her own feelings, agrees to see if Hamlet is acting crazy because he is in love. Before she knows it, she is placed in a predicament where she has to chose between her loyalty to her father, or her own feelings. She chose to lie to Hamlet rather than reveal her father. This is her fatal flaw. Hamlet, knowing she is lying to him, gets very angry and not only denys his feelings for her, he questions her integrity and refers to her as an impure woman. Hamlet is rude in his own day by asking Ophelia "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?" (Act 3, Scene II, Line 109) Ophelia had deserved the treatment she received from him. Hamlet was fed up with Ophelia ignoring him and always trying to stay away from him. From her betraying Hamlet and the denouncing of his love, this confrontation begins Ophelia true fall into insanity. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood buddies who when asked by the king, try to find out what is troubling their friend. The two of them go to Hamlet pretending to be his friends, when in all actuality they are only there because the king asked them to find the truth. Hamlet realizes their purpose for their visit is to find the real reason for his sadness as of late. As the play continues the twins are asked again by the king to go to Hamlet and try again to find the real reason for Hamlets behavior. Hamlet insults them at every chance knowing they are lying to him about their purpose of the visit. "Tis as easy as lying; govern these ventages with you finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth,". (Act 3, Scene II, Lines 348-349) As the play continues Hamlet is sent off to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for him to pay for his crimes. Hamlet finding the letter to England changes it to say kill the possessors of the letter. Hamlet on the way to England gets supposedly kidnapped by pirates, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go to England and get executed. Hamlet felt they got what they deserved when they followed out the king's plan of action. With all of the corruption in Denmark, Hamlet thought out every decision with great wit. Hamlet's relationships with the Claudius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were all very just and deserving. As Hamlet finds out they all try to lie to him. Horatio, was his only true friend and he helped Hamlet until the end.
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