Shakespeare's Hamlet is a very wonderfully written book that contains so many literary elements and motifs that it remains one of the most debated and talked about pieces of literature never written. It begins with a very mysterious opening that sets the tone for the rest of the book. The old king of Denmark died and returned as a ghost to inform his son, also named Hamlet, of the terrible misfortune that befell him and left Denmark in political and emotional turmoil. He has come to inform young Hamlet that his uncle Claudius murdered the old king to gain the throne by remarrying the widowed queen just two months after his death. The timing is very important because it must have been soon enough for young Hamlet to challenge him for the throne, but the hasty marriage caused the citizens of Denmark to question and be very critical of their new king Claudius. Today, the sudden death of his father and the hasty marriage between his uncle and his mother leave him in a state of emotional turmoil that is perceptible to everyone who sees him. The rest of the play is a seemingly endless maze of confusion, drama, and sometimes madness as Hamlet sets out to discover the truth about his uncle and ultimately seek revenge for his father's murder. (Lucking 3) This labyrinth, combined with Shakespeare's tendency to be very broad and not always give the audience the whole picture, seems to be why Hamlet continues to be one of the most debated issues of the 21st century. One of the less recognized motifs throughout the book or even in general is the friendship and support that Hamlet received throughout his continued state of turmoil. This friend...... middle of paper ......ke Hamlet is going crazy or everything is not going to go well. Horatio is the one person who is always there for Hamlet and always plays the role of his most loyal and closest friend and this is something that is not always noticed by the average audience member, but it plays into makes a big part in the play and couldn't just be left out. Works Cited Thatcher, David. “English Studies.” English studies. 74.3 246. Internet. December 3, 2012. .Lucking, David. “Hamlet and the narrative construction of reality”. English Studies 89.2 (2008): 152-165. Academic research completed. Internet. December 4, 2012. Kumamoto, Chikako. “Shakespeare’s HAMLET.” Explainer 64.4 (2006): 202-205. Academic research completed. Internet. December 4. 2012.