how is friendship portrayed in Hamlet- grade A

Friendship in Hamlet is portrayed as untrustworthy and limited, thus shown by having only one true friend. Hamlet loses both his mother through remarriage and father through murder as a result of the scandal, thus tries to rely on friends who mostly seem to be spying against him. Hamlet is forced to turn to his friends for consultation and advice. Hamlet's relationship with Horatio is the only lasting friendship there is, and it proves to represent the essence of rational thinking and friendship, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two ‘friends’ who Hamlet has killed for deceit, contrast this by reassigning their loyalties and abandoning their friendship with Hamlet. Another relationship was his relationship with Ophelia, who he shuns and casts away so he can further his quest. Ophelia’s brother is also a key friend who turns on Hamlet after he accidently kills his father.

The most important presentation of friendship is with the loyal Horatio. Horatio is seen to be the first major link to Hamlet as the first to tell Hamlet of this so-called ghost which he is sceptic about. This sets the tone for Horatio's character as wise and un-afraid. This scepticism was also mirrored in Hamlets view of the ghost as he says ‘is this the devil’, whereas Horatio comments ‘it harrows me with fear and wonder’. He is also the most educated scholar, as he went to the University of Wittenberg with Hamlet and the only one among them qualified to speak in such a situation. This demonstrates the respect shown to Horatio from everyone, he is seen as a counsellor and a noble. Horatio establishes his bravery during the opening scene by questioning the ghost. Hamlets friendship with Horatio is concrete, apart from the soliloquies, Hamlet true feelings are only ever caught when it just Horatio and Hamlet on stage. This sharing of intimate feelings may highlight the strength of the bond between them. This can be evidenced when Horatio states that he will commit suicide or die alongside Hamlet in the opening soliloquy. Horatio is ultimately Hamlets ‘right hand man’ who is seen to serve and counsel Hamlet in all times of need. Changing between best friend, counsel, servant and protector, he is Hamlets helper in his search for fate and closure. Christopher Warley stated “To interpret Hamlet, means to become Horatio.” Warley may be suggesting that Hamlet is so reliant on Horatio’s stability for his instability that Horatio is the only one to truly know Hamlets intentions. Although this is said, he could be wrong as Hamlet did not follow his advice with the duel and the ghost refuses to speak to Horatio, which undermines him. The friendship is so significant that Shakespeare has made Hamlet force Horatio to retell the ‘story’ three times in the last scene. By commanding Horatio, as his dying wish, to tell the story to Fortinbras, he is effectively turning Horatio into ‘orator’ and narrator, thereby heighten his position in the play. Shakespeare clearly uses friendship to show that society has not fully ‘crumbled’ and there is still good in human kind.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two indistinguishable friends who Hamlet went to school with. The initial encounter of these foil characters is very significant. Hamlet greets the pair as "excellent good friends" (II, ii). This was seen earlier in the play when Hamlet introduced Horatio. Although the conversation that Hamlet has with Horatio is similar to the one he has with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (R&G), the tone used for R&G raised many suspicions and questions, forcing Hamlet to question their true intentions. These foil character seem incapable of acting independently, unlike Horatio, and are referred to as one character. R&G try to use their friendship with Hamlet to increase patronage but had to get this through reporting on Hamlet’s weird behaviour. Hamlet is aware of the schemes to which they are part of and instantly distrusts them, causing to a deteoriating of friendships of them and later Ophelia. Although R&G only try to find out what is the matter with Hamlet and does not know of the true fate of the letter that they are to deliver with Hamlet, it is in fact Hamlet who holds little trust and is paranoid. Hamlet sees their friendship as worthless and corrupt, thus he has them executed with little sympathy saying: “'they did make love to this employment. / they are not near my conscience'”. This is the first real death that he meant to happen and he planned. Shakespeare has done this to highlight Hamlets determination and lack of remorse. Tom Stoppard, director of R&G are dead had used these minor characters as tools which are used to boost the understanding of their storylines and enhance the perspectives of the major characters. Stoppard may have done this to highlight the importance of minor characters and their thoughts, however one could also argue this could have been done to show the effects of so called ‘friendship’ and what happens when it is broken.

Shakespeare’s presentation of Laertes as not so much a friend but an accomplice is significant to show that they are foils of each other. Laertes echoes Hamlet but behaves in the reverse; Hamlet is verbal and philosophical but Laertes is physical; where Hamlet thinks, Laertes acts impulsively. This can also be seen through the love of Ophelia, where Laertes wishes to protect her but Hamlet looks to exploit her. Ophelia is an important character for love and deception as she is torn between her love for Hamlet and her societal position as a woman in the Victorian era. Daughters were forced to follow what the father wishes without disobedience, as seen when Polonius tells her to spy on Hamlet and she replies ‘I shall obey, my lord’. This submissive action is seen as undermining in Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship as well, when he says that she is ‘impure’ and that she should ‘get thee to a nunnery’. By stating such obscene ideas, Hamlet has ended the relationship between them both for his gain or [possibly to not hurt the person who he truly loves.

In conclusion, Shakespeare’s presentation of friendship is contrasting. He makes Hamlet have only one true friend who is not against him, even though Hamlet does not always follow his friend’s advice. This presentation of friendship may be significant to show the independence Hamlet has over his choices and actions, however the presentation of friendship with other characters may highlight the mental instability that the grief of his father has done to him. Although Horatio may be considered a minor character, he is in fact one of the most important characters to understand Hamlets true intention.