Question

friend and flatterers poem summary

Answer 1

Friend and Flatterers is an old poem written by the great English Literary William Shakespeare. Like many of  Shakespeare's works, the poem looks at the human society and tries to uncover the hypocrisy present in every day life. Interestingly, the premise of the whole poem is as relevant today as it was 500 years in the Middle-Ages England.
The poems tells how it is not easy to find real and trustworthy friends, who can actually help you in times of need or sorrow.  He says that words are easy, actually they cost nothing, and people use words and flattery to make others feel important to get their favour, but when some calamity falls, they abandon them, because, they are hypocrites and are only looking for favours. 
It is interesting to know that the society that existed over 500 years ago in English is so similar to the India we live in today.

Answer 2

This poem hits the crude reality of society and explains how times have changed, but hypocrisy in people always tend to make it's way. Flattery and praise are like cotton wool spun, which appears beautiful from outside, but is equally hollow and shallow in nature. It is the hard hitting reality that we may find many friends who would make us feel like kings or Queens, they will be with us only till the time we spend on them.
Their magnanimity will impress us, but they are hollow from within. Once we encounter any problem, they will fly away like a bird and never return to us.
But a true friend will stay with us. they will share our sorrows and would question our being when we are wrong. So, it is we who have to differentiate between a false and a true friend.