Anthony Mederos

AP Literature

Ms. O’Keefe

October 27, 2017

Betrayal in Literature

In William Shakespeare ​Hamlet ​there is portrayal being shown as Claudius ,brother of

King Hamlet, murders his own brother and marries his brother's wife Gertrude. Aventura is a

music group that consists of the members: Romeo Santos, Henry Santos, Lenny Santos, Max

Santos. This group was known for being a group that wrote songs about life and what people

experience such as love, betrayal, death. It was a famous group worldwide with their songs in

spanish from 1998-2011. In William Shakespeare ​Hamlet ​written in 1599,​ ​betrayal is being

demonstrated from Claudius to his brother which echos a different view of betrayal compared to

a song from 2003 by Aventura.

In ​Hamlet ​, Claudius betrays his own brother in King Hamlet to take the life that King

Hamlet had. There was this idea of jealousy as Claudius wanted what King Hamlet had. In 1599

it was wanting to be the King and be married to the Queen. In 2003 that jealousy is different,

Aventura member Romeo sings about losing his love of his life to another person that is going to

marry the love of Romeo’s life. The name of the song is called “La Boda[The wedding]”. . “​Who

loves you like I do, oh god if you marry today, you will take my life. It is like an aim of a novel

our history ,tell me that this ceremony is a nightmare father do not allow this is absurd wedding

to go on, this is an error put pause to this wedding” (Santos 1) This is an example of how

betrayal has changed in society in the past a big betrayal was marrying your brother's wife. In
current society it has changed it is now marrying someone else love. Aventura writes about

betrayal in different forms. This one wasn’t necessarily in Hamlet but cheating is a form of

betrayal expressed by Aventura. In one of the songs name “Los Infieles[ The Infidels]”. “Be

careful, the neighbors, my wife, or your husband will start to suspect us (my wife or your

husband)oh oh oh You and me, both sleeping with the enemy,two people that we have never

loved.Both of us now satiating this whim that makes us masochist - we refuse to go back to our

homes” (Aventura 1). This is showing the betrayal in Aventura as there is an affair going on and

both want to keep it a secret. This also shows how society has been changing becuase this was

not how it used to be in the past with cheating because one would murder to get what the person

wants. In current society there are affair or cheating that is occurring. There was also a song that

showed although there are differences in how betrayal has changed there are still betrayals that

continue. In Aventura song Ella y Yo [Her and I], it shows two really close friends,Romeo and

Don Omar, having a conversation. Don Omar tells Romeo that he is in love with this woman but

she is with someone. Romeo tells Don Omar to go for his love and take the chances and Romeo

also talks about the girl he is currently in love with. It turned out Don Omar was in love with

Romeo’s wife and is having an affair with Romeo's wife. This is similar to the idea of Claudius

wanting gertrude but in order to do so Claudius murdered King Hamlet, which is similar to what

Don Omar had done to Romeo. “​AVENTURA: What? DON: I slept with your wife

AVENTURA: No, I can't believe this DON: I slept with your wife AVENTURA: No, no DON: I

slept with your wife AVENTURA:Let God forgive you, I will not I lost both of you and at the

same time I know that everything was a lie when she told”(Aventura 1). This is the moment

where Don Omar admits to his friend that he had been sleeping with his wife. It’s different
compared to how Claudius felt because he had no regret compared to Don Omar who felt

all the guilt. “That cannot be, since I am still possessed. Of those effects for which I did

murder. My crown, mine own ambition, and my Queen” (Shakespeare III,iii,57-58)​. It shows

how although there is. This shows how although there are differences in how the betrayal is

caused there still cann be a few similarities between they two generations on the idea of betrayal.

Compared to ​Hamlet ​, the group aventura was able to echo the idea of betrayal in their

songs. Although it’s not the same as it was in 1599 with murdering your brother to get what you

want. In current society has changed as there are affairs and marrying the wrong person. This is

how there has been that change in society but the betrayal is still the same in impact bringing

hate and suicidal thoughts as it happened to Hamlet and the singers in the songs.

Works Cited
 “Aventura & Don Omar - Ella y yo (English translation).” ​Muzikum.eu​,

muzikum.eu/en/127-5504-155749/aventura/ella-y-yo-english-translation.html.

“AVENTURA - Los Infieles by Aventura Lyrics English translation.” ​MotoLyrics.com​,

motolyrics.com/aventura/los-infieles-by-aventura-lyrics-english-translation.html.

“Letra 'La boda (English lyrics)' de Aventura.” ​Musica.com​,

www.musica.com/letras.asp?letra=934928​.

Shakespeare, William, et al. ​The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark​. Simon &

Schuster Paperbacks, 2009.