Importance Of Foils In Hamlet

There are literacy techniques that show the character’s emotion, image, and in the Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, it teaches a lesson. Throughout the play, the literacy technique shown most is the existence of foils. The author used the support of the characters to show foil events to enhance the play’s perspective. A foil is a character who, even though share similar situations and feelings, outlines the protagonist’s distinctive characteristics. In Hamlet’s case, he shares the similar characteristics and situations with both Laertes, the son of Polonius and Fortinbras, the son of the fallen king of Norway. The three sons of their murdered fathers all see a different perspective of their own situation and tries to even the score in a non-friendly …show more content…
Laertes and Hamlet may have a similar goal but, they are different in character traits. Hamlet is more of a silent killer while Laertes is more a straight forward person. Also, Laertes is more direct than Hamlet is when it comes to socializing. When he stormed into the castle, he demanded answers from Claudius about why he would kill his father. “That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard, Cries “Cuckold!” to my father, brands the “harlot” Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brows of my true mother.” (4, 5, 115-118).Laertes was basically inquiring Claudius about who killed his father and if he didn’t avenge his father, it will bring shame to his family. Also, he was prepared to kill Claudius assuming he committed the crime. This shows that Laertes being straight to the point with his inquiry with Claudius and his act of courage help him look manlier in the play. Later on after Laertes has calmed down, Claudius pulls him aside and talks about how his son Hamlet and his unforgivable acts. “To cut his throat I ' th ' church.” (4, 7, 127). This shows Laertes declaration to kill Hamlet by cutting his throat in a holy place, the church. Also, his madness of rage kicks in when he was describing the way he wants Hamlet to die. Near the end of the play, the final battle between Laertes and Hamlet, Laertes states that he will lose his honor …show more content…
Fortinbras is a well-oriented person who like Hamlet wants to get revenge on Hamlet’s father for killing his father and Shakespeare has shown that problems can spread to one person to another, kind of like a virus. From the very beginning of the play, the previous king, king Hamlet has killed Fortinbras’ father, the former king of Norway and now, Fortinbras is gathering an army to attack Denmark. “Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimprovèd mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in’t, which is no other—As it doth well appear unto our state—But to recover of us, by strong hand And terms compensatory, those foresaid lands So by his father lost. And this, I take it, Is the main motive of our preparations, the source of this our watch, and the chief head of this posthaste and rummage in the land.” (1, 1, 95-98). This shows that Fortinbras is secretly gathering his army to attack Denmark to avenge his father’s death. This shows that Fortinbras is more like a commander and plotting their attack just so, he can avenge his father’s death. When it comes to reputation, Fortinbras has a sense of honor and pride just like Hamlet and both Hamlet and Fortinbras have the same but, portrayed in different levels. “We go to gain a little patch of ground that hath in it no profit but the name.” (4, 4,