In the World of Hamlet Trust Is a Rare Commodity – How Far and in What Ways Do You Agree with This View of the Play?

In the world of Hamlet trust is a rare commodity – How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play?

The theme of trust was very influential in this play. Trust determined many decisions between the relationships of others based on who was thought of as friend or foe. Hamlet contains many events which causes distrust between others. The play shows the audience how trust can affect our everyday lives, and so I agree with the view that trust is a rare commodity in the world of Hamlet. It is important to answer this question as it reflects highly the modern day society. There is a lack of trust in everyone, even between friends. This could be due to the high use of social media and being able to communicate without seeing facial expressions, hearing tones of voices or having to deal with the consequences. By analysing and answering this question we are able to see how important trust is in our everyday lives and what the consequences can be if trust is lacking, (however far fetched some may seem). The idea of trust was especially prominent during Shakespearian times. Almost everybody trusted that God was real and that he would save them, which is reflected in the play; Hamlet is reluctant to avenge his father due to murder being a sin. Also, during Shakespearian times, there were numerous superstitions that people believed and trusted in. Horatio lists a number of these superstitions which could explain why the ghost of Hamlet’s father has appeared, one being that it could mean great disaster is coming.

The watchman, Francisco, is asked by another solider who he is, which proves from the first scene that trust is a rare commodity in the world of Hamlet. This is because it shows that everyone is on edge and weary of each other from the start. This is due to the fact that it is normally the watchmen that asks who is approaching, and not the person who is coming towards them. Francisco says ‘Nay, answer me,’ when he is asked who he is. This indicates that there is some social tension, which is creating a lack of trust in everybody. This idea is supported by the David Tennent version of Hamlet. This is because in that version, there are security cameras all around the castle. They show that Claudius does not trust his people, and may have an underlying fear that someone will betray him of figure out that he murdered his brother. The use of the security cameras creates a sense of unease for the audience as well. This means that not also do the characters lack trust but so does the audience. This sense of unease also would have been prominate in Shakespeare’s original performance as the audience would have known that something was wrong when the watchmen was asked who he was.

Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet due to his distressing change in behaviour, which again shows how trust is a rare commodity. This is because it tells the audience that Claudius does not believe his son and doubts his antic-disposition. Most parents would be concerned for their child if they started to behave oddly like Hamlet; but Claudius is just suspicious of Hamlet and questions his true motives. Claudius tells the two men that ‘Hamlet’s transformation’ is the reason he wants them to spy on him. However, Claudius follows up the line with ‘so I call it,’ which could show that he doesn’t believe Hamlet’s sudden change in personality and thinks that he is planning something to betray Claudius.

When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to visit Hamlet for Claudius, Hamlet is immediately suspicious. This shows how Hamlet lacks trust, even for his childhood friends. He asks them why they have come to see him and is dissatisfied with their answer and so, Hamlet then asks them again, ‘what make you at Elsinore?’ Which shows that his suspicions of them are growing. When they reply saying that they only came to visit Hamlet, he does not believe them. Hamlet asks ‘is it a free visitation?’ Showing that trust is a rare commodity as he doubts his friends and thinks that they have ulterior motives for seeing him. Hamlet asks them three times why they have come, each time his suspicions growing. Hamlet says ‘Anything but to th’ purpose.’ Again showing that Hamlet already suspects them of being sent, and assumes they will not give him straight answer. Which is turn shows a lack of trust as Hamlet thinks that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz will still try and lie about their real reasons for seeing Hamlet, even after being confronted about their true motives.

The final reason that shows that trust is a rare commodity in the world of Hamlet is that Polonius doesn’t trust his son Laertes or his daughter Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet. Polonius tells his daughter that she shouldn’t trust Hamlet as he is only using her for sex. He says that Hamlet is a ‘springes to catch woodcocks.’ Meaning that Polonius thinks that Hamlet is liar and untrustworthy; despite him being the King’s son. Polonius also says to Ophelia, ‘Do not believe his vows’ this supports the view that trust is a rare commodity as Polonius does not believe that Hamlet truly loves Ophelia, despite her saying that Hamlet ‘hath given countenance to his speech,..., with almost all the holy vows of heaven.’ With Polonius dismissing this, it also indicates that he does not trust Ophelia. This is because if he really did trust her he would support her decision instead of telling her that Hamlet’s vows are nothing more than ‘mere imploratory of unholy suits.’ Also, Polonius’ actions support the view that trust is a rare commodity as not only does he not trust his daughter, he doesn’t trust his son either. He sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes while he is away at University in Paris. This shows the distrust he has for his son as he doesn't trust him enough to make smart choices even after him telling about a ‘few precepts’. This suggests that he never truly trusted his son, he just needed to give the impression that he did so that his son wouldn’t doubt his father. Polonius goes as far as telling Reynaldo to say ‘what forgeries you please’ and that he ‘may dishonour him’ so that Polonius can get the information that he wants.  This supports the view that trust is a rare commodity as it shows that another parent in the Elsinore cannot trust his own child and believes that they do not know anything. He tells Ophelia that ‘you speak like a green girl,’ which shows that he thinks his children, especially Ophelia, are naive.