Betrayal is one of the
most dramatic and ultimate twists of a story. Wikipedia defines betrayal as “is the breaking or violation of a
presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and
psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between
organizations or between individuals and organizations.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betrayal).
Ditionary.com also gives a good definition of betrayal as “deliver r expose to
an enemy by treachery or disloyalty”
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/betrayal?s=t). Shakespeare uses betrayal when Lysander
betrays Hermia when he tells her he is in love with Helena and not her.
Shakespeare uses
betrayal through the characters of Lysander, Hermia, and Helena. Hermia says,
“Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to
thy sound But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?”(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 1220).
In this line Hermia has just found Lysander after he left Hermia in the middle
of the night while she was asleep because Puck dripped the magical flower
nectar on Lysander’s eyes. This causes Lysander to fall in love with Helena
when she wakes him up because she is the first thing he sees so he runs after
her when she leaves him. Lysander then says in reply, “Why should he stay, whom
love doth press to go?”(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 1220). Lysander says back to
Helena why should he stay with her when his love does not belong with her
anymore. This causes Helena to become heart broken and confused. She then
questions him why his love does not belong with her anymore. He says to her,
“Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, Fair Helena, who more engilds
the night Than all you fiery oes and eyes of light. Why seek'st thou me? Could
not this make thee know, the hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?” (Act 3,
Scene 2, Line 1230). This is the ultimate line of betrayal. Lysander tells
Hermia his love belongs with Helena and not her. Helena who is supposed to be
her best friend is now in love with her true love? Unbelievable Hermia is
thinking. These few lines are followed up with an intense brawl between Helena
and Hermia and a fight between Lysander and Demetrius, who are both under the
love spell, over Helena.
Betrayal is spotted every day. We even have shown based
on chiefly betrayal. For example, the show Cheaters or the Bachelor. Cheaters
is all about trying to find out if your partner is betraying you by also being
in a relationship with another person. The Bachelor runs off backstabbing
sabotage, cheating. These are all listed under the synonyms of betrayal.
Betrayal is shown just in every day couples. Cheating is practically the same
things as betrayal. When a partner in marriage or a relationship cheats on
their partner with another person, that is the ultimate betrayal. Betrayal
could also be found in everyday life with something as little as a friend
telling another friend a secret and then they tell another person, betraying
their friend and losing their trust in the process.
William Shakespeare
showed betrayal in his book through specific characters and specific acts. The
character of Lysander, Hermia, Helena, and Demetrius represent love but they
also represent betrayal.
Citing
"Betrayal."
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2013.
N.p.,
n.d. Web.
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