Redemption, is the action, regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing debt. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, redemption is a common focus for the protagonist Hamlet, followed by Old King Fortinbras’ son, Fortinbras, and Laertes. These ambitious men embark on a quest for truth and redemption because of the loss of their father’s. In spite of the fluctuations in their quest, their journey for truth and redemption is successful because Fortinbras, Laertes and Hamlet all avenge their fathers’ deaths. Through Active Reversal, Fortinbras’ quest was successful, by Laertes’ Fear of Betrayal his quest to kill Hamlet was successful. Finally, by Hamlet controlling his psyche and destroying his core issue of
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Laertes is the son of Polonius, who is mistakenly murdered by Hamlet. Laertes goes away to school in France, only to be told that his father was murdered and there was no ceremony. Subsequently, that fueled Laertes’ core issue, the fear of betrayal. He feared that Claudius killed his father because Polonius was close to Claudius; him being the King’s advisor. Laertes’ quest for redemption is to kill Hamlet. To begin, Laertes came back to Denmark to charge Claudius for his father’s death saying, “How come he dead? I’ll not be juggled with./ To hell allegiance! Vow, to the blackest devil!” (4.5.130-131). This statement demonstrates how betrayed Laertes feels towards Claudius and the whole kingdom as he says, “To hell allegiance! Vow, to the blackest devil!”. For this reason, he is comprehensively denouncing any allegiance his family has ever had with the royal family being, that his fear of betrayal has finally come to pass. With regard to the statement made by Laertes, he goes on and declares, “... I give to negligence,/ Let come what comes - only I’ll be revenged/ most thoroughly for my father” (4.5.134-36). Moreover, Laertes’ motives are known; he is willing to travel to any extent for his father. The fear of betrayal is the troublesome feeling that loved ones and family members can not be trusted. In Laertes’ case, Claudius and the royal family were loved ones whom they trusted tremendously, notably because his father was the king’s advisor. Considering their close relationship, Laertes is sorrowful due to the fact that he would have never expected this from them. This core issue that is an issue in his life was able to drive him to want to murder Claudius but, in particularly Hamlet. As a result of him using that core fear of betrayal, his quest was successful by the death of
Laertes is the son of Polonius, who is mistakenly murdered by Hamlet. Laertes goes away to school in France, only to be told that his father was murdered and there was no ceremony. Subsequently, that fueled Laertes’ core issue, the fear of betrayal. He feared that Claudius killed his father because Polonius was close to Claudius; him being the King’s advisor. Laertes’ quest for redemption is to kill Hamlet. To begin, Laertes came back to Denmark to charge Claudius for his father’s death saying, “How come he dead? I’ll not be juggled with./ To hell allegiance! Vow, to the blackest devil!” (4.5.130-131). This statement demonstrates how betrayed Laertes feels towards Claudius and the whole kingdom as he says, “To hell allegiance! Vow, to the blackest devil!”. For this reason, he is comprehensively denouncing any allegiance his family has ever had with the royal family being, that his fear of betrayal has finally come to pass. With regard to the statement made by Laertes, he goes on and declares, “... I give to negligence,/ Let come what comes - only I’ll be revenged/ most thoroughly for my father” (4.5.134-36). Moreover, Laertes’ motives are known; he is willing to travel to any extent for his father. The fear of betrayal is the troublesome feeling that loved ones and family members can not be trusted. In Laertes’ case, Claudius and the royal family were loved ones whom they trusted tremendously, notably because his father was the king’s advisor. Considering their close relationship, Laertes is sorrowful due to the fact that he would have never expected this from them. This core issue that is an issue in his life was able to drive him to want to murder Claudius but, in particularly Hamlet. As a result of him using that core fear of betrayal, his quest was successful by the death of