preview

Comparing Gertrude, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Decent Essays
Open Document

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet exposes the flaws of several other characters through his interactions with them. Although they are not always aware that they are being exposed, their defects are made clear to the audience through Hamlet’s statements. Gertrude, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Polonius are all exposed in this manner, and through this process their true natures are revealed.
From the beginning of the play, Hamlet resents Gertrude for her unduly swift marriage to his uncle following the elder Hamlet’s death. He feels that she has betrayed his father’s memory. He confronts her regarding this betrayal near the end of Act III, shortly after the play-within-a-play. Hamlet remarks, “You go not till I set you up a glass/ …show more content…

The two of them share a common flaw. They both care only about their own advancement, and are willing to spy on and betray Hamlet in order to stay in the king’s favor. Despite the fact that they both claim to be Hamlet’s friends, they barely hesitate to accept the tasks the king sets before them. Hamlet knows that they possess this trait. He recognizes that they have been spying on him and trying to trick him. In a conversation prior to his confrontation of his mother, he tells Guildenstern, “’Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me” (Act III, scene ii). This statement shows his recognition of their actions and points out their disloyalty to him. Later, when, in conversation with Hamlet, Rosencrantz asks, “Take me for a sponge, my lord?” Hamlet replies, “Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities” (Act IV, scene ii). With this response, the two men’s willingness to disregard morals in favor of material gain is presented to the audience. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s eventual deaths are caused by their greed and their desire to be in the king’s good favor. They are taking Hamlet to be executed, and they don’t question the order. When they go to their deaths, Hamlet remarks to Horatio, “Why, Man, they did make love to this employment” (Act V, scene ii). They are no longer …show more content…

He spies on Hamlet and attempts to trick the truth out of him, and he sees nothing wrong with his actions. Hamlet points out his shortcomings on several occasions. When one of the players is reciting the speech requested by Hamlet and Polonius states, “It is too long,” Hamlet comments, “He’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps” (Act II, scene ii). This statement emphasizes how superficial Polonius is. He plays with Polonius when discussing clouds in Act III, and Polonius agrees with each new assertion Hamlet makes, saying finally that the cloud is “very like a whale” (Act III, scene ii). Through this exchange Hamlet mocks Polonius’s willingness to agree with everything he says. Hamlet exposes him more explicitly at his death. After stabbing Polonius, Hamlet says, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell” (Act III, scene iv). Hamlet does not mean to kill Polonius, thinking he is Claudius, but his remarks here nevertheless expose Polonius’s true nature. Polonius wants only to be rewarded, and acts foolishly in order to achieve his goals. He lacks morals. Hamlet also calls him a “foolish prating knave” (Act III, scene iv) as he takes away his body, further accentuating his previous statement and making the audience once more contemplate Polonius’s

Get Access
Related
Get Access