The worst feeling of pain you can feel is when you are betrayed by someone you thought loved you. Betrayal is an act of disloyalty and means violating someone's trust. In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, betrayal is a recurring action among many characters. This comedy shows audiences the different types of betrayal imaginable, from a husband cheating on his wife, a boyfriend cheating on his girlfriend, and a mother cheating on her son and father. These actions of betrayal hurt the people who are most loved and ultimately destroy them where it hurts the most. Betrayal is one of Hamlet's strongest and most important themes. The entire play revolves around the murder of King Hamlet. The betrayal is further expanded, there is not a character who does not commit betrayal during the course of the work. Betrayal actions in the play lead to the painful destruction of the characters. Claudius is the king of Denmark, who is a very powerful and assertive man. He is the type of person who will do anything to get what he wants and will do everything in his power to remain king. He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it means betraying the person he is supposed to be committed to and love, his wife Gertrude. Gertrude is Hamlet's mother, whom she cares for and loves deeply. She is convinced that Claudio does it too. In order for Claudius to remain king, he must keep Gertrude happy and satisfied. She does this by pretending to love Hamlet in front of Gertrude when in reality she wants to kill Hamlet. Claudius faces the truth that his secret has come out and Hamlet knows that he killed King Hamlet. Not wanting to ruin his reputation and obviously remain king, he plans to have Hamlet killed. She lets Gertrude believe... middle of paper... feelings and marries Claudius, which really hurts Hamlet. Gertrude as a wife and mother, hurts the people she loves most, her family. Shakespeare's play Hamlet captivates audiences with many devastating and suspenseful themes, including betrayal. Some of the most beloved characters are betrayed by those they thought loved them most. The things these characters do to the people they love are wrong, hurtful, and disappointing. These examples lead to the destruction of many characters physically and emotionally. The characters in the play who committed the act of betrayal end up paying for what they did in the form of death, both by nature and by their own selfishness, disloyalty and madness. The act of betrayal truly captures and shows Hamlet's play as a sad tragedy. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Harold Jenkins. London: Methuen, 1982. Print