Paige Townshend
Byrd
English Hn
27 April 2017
Hamlet In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the two characters Hamlet and Laertes are in obvious contrast two each other. Hamlet - the son of the dead King Hamlet of Denmark is contemplative and moody, while Laertes, son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia,is impulsive and determined. Through the character of Hamlet and Laertes, Shakespeare creates a dramatic foil between the two, their similarities and differences reveal hamlet's prominent character traits and downfalls.
One of the first similarities between Hamlet and Laertes is that they were spied on: Polonius, the father of Laertes, asks Reynaldo to spy on his son for reputation purposes (Act II, scene 1) while Claudius, the step-father of …show more content…
Hamlets use of witty remarks implies Hamlet to be a man who thinks before acts. When Hamlet learns of that Claudius is the murderer of his father, he first makes sure that he is proven guilty by using strategy. As soon as he investigates his fathers murder he then waits patiently for the perfect time to avenge his father's death. "And so he goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. That would be scanned; A villain kills my father and for that, I , his sole son, do this same villain to heaven."(act III scene 3) Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius in this scene because doing so will send Claudius to heaven, which is not what Hamlet wants, so he lets the opportunity pass. Laertes has a different approach to his fathers murder. His actions reveal him to be one who reacts quickly and without consequence. When he hears of his fathers death he rages into the castle threatening to kill Claudius. "Where is this king?- Sirs, stand you all without" (act IV scene 5) Laertes doesn't take the time to investigate the murder of his father, he just assumes he was killed by the king and immediately seeks his revenge. This shows Laertes’ impulsive character in contrast to Hamlet’s timid nature.
Overall, the similarities between Hamlet and laertes is seen throughout the whole play. Both characters are constantly given the same issue to deal with and each handle it in a completely opposite way. Shakespeare by doing this helps the
Byrd
English Hn
27 April 2017
Hamlet In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the two characters Hamlet and Laertes are in obvious contrast two each other. Hamlet - the son of the dead King Hamlet of Denmark is contemplative and moody, while Laertes, son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia,is impulsive and determined. Through the character of Hamlet and Laertes, Shakespeare creates a dramatic foil between the two, their similarities and differences reveal hamlet's prominent character traits and downfalls.
One of the first similarities between Hamlet and Laertes is that they were spied on: Polonius, the father of Laertes, asks Reynaldo to spy on his son for reputation purposes (Act II, scene 1) while Claudius, the step-father of …show more content…
Hamlets use of witty remarks implies Hamlet to be a man who thinks before acts. When Hamlet learns of that Claudius is the murderer of his father, he first makes sure that he is proven guilty by using strategy. As soon as he investigates his fathers murder he then waits patiently for the perfect time to avenge his father's death. "And so he goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. That would be scanned; A villain kills my father and for that, I , his sole son, do this same villain to heaven."(act III scene 3) Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius in this scene because doing so will send Claudius to heaven, which is not what Hamlet wants, so he lets the opportunity pass. Laertes has a different approach to his fathers murder. His actions reveal him to be one who reacts quickly and without consequence. When he hears of his fathers death he rages into the castle threatening to kill Claudius. "Where is this king?- Sirs, stand you all without" (act IV scene 5) Laertes doesn't take the time to investigate the murder of his father, he just assumes he was killed by the king and immediately seeks his revenge. This shows Laertes’ impulsive character in contrast to Hamlet’s timid nature.
Overall, the similarities between Hamlet and laertes is seen throughout the whole play. Both characters are constantly given the same issue to deal with and each handle it in a completely opposite way. Shakespeare by doing this helps the