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Despite his own imperfections, Hamlet is looking down into the pond, because through direct and indirect means, he is responsible for Laertes and Fortinbras being foils. However, the pond is only able to reflect physicality, not personality. This explains why only the physical circumstances of Laertes and Fortinbras are reflected rather than their decisions and actions. Hamlet recognizes the foils within his own plot when he says to Laertes, “I’ll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance your skill shall, like a star I’th’ darkest night, stick fiery off indeed” (Shakespeare V ii 227-229). Of the three, Hamlet is the only character that never takes immediate action in situations. However, through Hamlet’s imperfections, it seems that “Shakespeare… …show more content…
is trying to evoke and maintain a positive response to his protagonist [Hamlet]” (Kinney 218). Despite this, a positive response is not always generated toward Hamlet because he consistently fails to complete his desired goal. This adds further levels to Hamlet’s complexity. It seems as if Hamlet is unable to ever take action, but in reality, Hamlet shows restraint more often and is able to control himself. Hamlet consciously chooses not to disturb the contained water of Laertes and Fortinbras. The slight similarities and major differences between Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras highlight the important characterization moments of each character.
Although Hamlet has been deemed the focus of the metaphorical pond established in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, it is actually the active responses of Laertes and Fortinbras that complete the metaphor. Both Laertes and Fortinbras are used as foils in order to undercut Hamlet because their actions ironically show that Hamlet does not take action. Shakespeare demonstrates a play on words when Hamlet says “I’m too much in the sun” (Shakespeare I ii 69). The play on words is found in the word “sun,” which relates to the word “son.” In this line, Hamlet is not saying that he is too much in the literal sun, but rather that he is too much of his father’s son. This moment illustrates the three way connection between the characters. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are all too much of their father’s son; they are all too invested in the deaths of their fathers. It is because of this that they all feel the need to avenge their respective fathers’ deaths. This is also the reason why there are so many unnecessary deaths in the play. Hamlet consistently speaks in iambic pentameter, which displays his meticulousness. This reflects his anticipation, specifically concerning his plot to kill Claudius. However, Hamlet does not want to be like Claudius and kill for no reason, which is why Hamlet has such a difficult time killing Claudius. As
this anticipation builds and becomes overwhelming, it eventually explodes, which causes a break in the iambic pentameter. These breaks in iambic pentameter demonstrate the gradual decline in Hamlet’s mental state. Sean McCoy says that “prose is of a lower social status than verse: poetry is ‘elevated’, noble; prose is ‘prosaic’, ordinary” (38). The use of iambic pentameter, which relates to poetry, also represents status, so breaking it shows apathy or shortcomings. These breaks in the meter correspond to disruptive ripples within the pond. Punctuation is also a consistent physical element that contributes to Hamlet’s transformations, because when Hamlet is concerned or contemplating something, he uses commas to lengthen the syntax, thus unnecessarily extending his troubles. When Hamlet has a transformation and lowers himself through verse, Laertes and Fortinbras have corresponding emotional changes, even if they are not directly correlated to Hamlet within the plot. Laertes has an internal change when he recognizes the importance of his own depth, and Fortinbras externally adjusts himself to be able to lead his attack on Poland. Hamlet’s change is shown in the plot when he creates a personal metaphor and compares Denmark to a prison. Hamlet has created a personal prison within his mind because he did not kill Claudius when he had the chance to. This directed contracts the metaphorical pond, because there, Hamlet symbolizes the freedom associated with the world. The metaphorical pond adequately illustrates the relationship between Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras. Through the imperfection shown through ripples of differences between Hamlet’s inadequacies, which are reflected in Laertes and Fortinbras, ultimate perfection is not obtained. Shakespeare’s use of tangled personal relationships and the longing for perfection, both necessary for the fulfillment of justice, are shown and prove that the selfish steps taken to achieve that perfection will lead to defeat. Hamlet’s complexity warrants his parallel to the entire world, whereas Laertes and Fortinbras together simply represent a pond. The surface of the pond is inherently flat, which parallels Fortinbras being a flat character. Contrarily, the depth of the water is more round and parallels Laertes as a dynamic character. The surface and the depth are necessary for Laertes and Fortinbras’ inevitable failed attempt at reflecting the intricacies of Hamlet.
In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the young Prince Hamlet must deal with murder, corruption and incest. The foils to Prince Hamlet, give the reader a basis to summarize his character within the play. Such foils include Laertes, son of Polonius, Claudius, current king of Denmark and stepfather of Hamlet, and Fortinbras, the prince of Norway.
Although the play Hamlet is largely centered around the “tragic hero” Hamlet, it is the minor foil characters that gives us a deeper understanding of the text and a more conscious understanding of the internal struggles experienced by Hamlet. Each of these characters contrasts a specific aspect of Hamlet that would otherwise be overlooked. Horatio consolidates all of the desirable features that Hamlet wants to be into one person. Fortinbras, although in the exact same situation as Hamlet with his father dead and his uncle on the throne, is the complete opposite of Hamlet by choosing action over inaction. Finally, Ophelia personifies Hamlet’s innocence and the death of his innocence after the death of his father. Despite being opposites of each other, each of these characters bring a new outlook on the tragedy of Hamlet.
One of the foils important to the play is Laertes. Although Laertes does not appear often in the play, he brings much to the plot and to Hamlet's character. These two are similar in many ways. They both seem to be about the same age, are well educated, and gentleman. One main thing that they have in common is they both are seeking revenge for their father's deaths. Both of their fathers were unnecessarily killed. Hamlet's father was killed by his father's brother for the crown and his wife, and Hamlet killed Laertes' father over mistaken identity. It was the revenge of these two that made up the plot of the story. Because of Laertes, the two could finally fulfill their revenge in the battle at the end that killed both Hamlet and the new king. If Laertes had not challenged Hamlet, the king would have died by some other way; however, the king died by poisoning just as he had killed his brother.
In Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Hamlet and Laertes act as dramatic foils, where their similarities are used to highlight their differences. Each character learns that his father has been murdered and each plots his revenge against the murderer. In the first act of the play, the ghost of Hamlet’s father tells him “Let not
In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the character of Fortinbras, has been used as a foil for the main character, Hamlet. Hamlet and Fortinbras have lost their fathers to untimely deaths. Claudius killed Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, and King Hamlet killed Fortinbras' father. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras have vowed to seek revenge for the deaths of their fathers. Since the revenge tactics of Hamlet and Fortinbras are completely different, Hamlet perceives the actions of Fortinbras as better than his own and the actions of Fortinbras, then, encourage Hamlet to act without hesitating.
In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is infuriated with his mother, Gertrude, for marrying his uncle, Claudius, less than two months after his father’s death. Hamlet, the main protagonist, has two characters who act as foils to him, and they are Fortinbras and Laertes. Not only do they want revenge on their father’s murderers, but they are willing to do so at all costs, even if it means destroying their reputation and independence. They also find different ways to cope with their troubles. These foils enhance the importance of Hamlet’s character throughout the play.
Hamlet is a tragedy that takes place in Denmark. The play is based on the myth of Amlet and retold by the great William Shakespeare. Hamlet is a world renown and thought provoking play that captivates its audience as it follows the struggle of a doubtful and temperamental prince to avenge the death of his father who has been murdered and replaced by his uncle Claudius. The captivation of the play can be attributed to the protagonist of the Hamlet and his two foils Laertes and Fortinbras. It is not common for the prestige of “Hamlet” to be partly attributed to characters with such small roles. The prevalent presence of Fortinbras and Laertes is no accident, it is something executed byWilliam Shakespeare so that we may learn more about Hamlet. Without Laertes and Fortinbras we wouldn't have any reasonable characters to compare Hamlet to. In Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras act as Hamlet’s foils. In a story the foil is a character who is superficially similar to the main character but differs by significant character traits. These similarities and differences are what accentuate main character. Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes have a lot in common when it comes to the situations that they find themselves and how they initially intend to respond to those situations. Be that as it may, each of these “avenging” sons sees their situation in a different light and attempt to avenge their fathers in different fashions. The foils similarities and differences are used by William Shakespeare to highlight the potential paths Hamlet could have taken on his crusade for revenge.
Hamlet, the major character in the Shakespeare play of the same name, was faced with a decision upon learning that Claudius murdered his father. Should he believe the ghost, and avenge his father's murder? Or is the ghost evil, trying to coerce him into killing Claudius? Throughout the play, we see Hamlet's struggle with this issue. Many opportunities arise for him to kill Claudius, but he is unable to act because he cannot convince himself to believe the Ghost. Shakespeare uses Laertes and Fortinbras as foils to Hamlet, in order to help us understand why Hamlet acts the way he does.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the theme of revenge is very palpable as the reader examines the characters of Hamlet himself, as well as Laertes, son of Polonius, and Fortinbras, prince of Norway and son of the late King Fortinbras. Each of these young characters felt the need to avenge the deaths of their fathers who they felt were untimely killed at the bloody hands of their murderers. However, the way each chose to go about this varies greatly and gives insight into their characters and how they progress throughout the play. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, or at least respect, their fathers. Enough to make an attempt to wreak revenge upon their fathers murderers at the risk of their own reputation, freedom, and souls.
William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet strikes many literary chords and themes. It primarily chronicles a quest for revenge, political intrigue and a slow descent into madness. Throughout the play, two men of different rank and intellect; Hamlet and Laertes are portrayed in this play as each other’s foils. Hamlet who has lost his father in the hands of his uncle and Laertes who has lost his father in the hands of Hamlet, seek out similar goals but in very distinct ways. Hamlet and Laertes both go through stages of their carving vengeance to finally fulfill their goals of killing their fathers’ murderers. The readers detect that Hamlet goes in the path of plotting and deceiving to kill Claudius whereas Laertes goes in a more haste and reckless path
In Hamlet, Shakespeare introduces us to Fortinbras and Hamlet. Both characters are bent on avenging the death of their fathers who were murdered. In Act I, two different revenge plots by these two men are revealed, and while Fortinbras is very open and bold about killing Claudius, Hamlet is sly and quiet about his plan. Fortinbras is also dead set on attacking Denmark no matter what but Hamlet is indecisive about killing Claudius. Fortinbras plans to lead an army to attack Denmark while Hamlet’s plan of attack is to act crazy.
The character of Hamlet is very prestigious, but he has many shortcomings. In many cases, he shows that he is all words and no action. He waits until the very last minute to take a course of action. Hamlet realizes this, and he wishes that he had the characteristics of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Horatio.
[4, 1, 40] These idiosyncrasies are observed in the play when Claudius becomes concerned he will lose power as King and the likelihood Hamlet will murder him to avenge his father’s death. This is apparent when Gertrude informs Claudius that Hamlet is, “Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend which is mightier”. [4,1,6] With these thoughts daunting Claudius, he approaches Laertes in a Machiavellian manner to convince him to murder Hamlet, for he knows Laertes is angry, deranged and “Vows to the blackest devil” [4,5,131] after the death of his father. In doing so, Claudius has the intent to use Machiavellian powers over Laertes who is currently mentally unstable, with the objective being that Laertes will murder Hamlet to avenge his own father’s (Polonius) death. Claudius is able to successfully persuade Laertes in a manipulative speech, especially with his snide comment, “Not that I think you did not love your father, but that I know love is begun by time, and that I see a passage of proof.” [4,7,96] Claudius’ malicious comment indicates he is using his power over Laertes, so that the burden and repercussions do not rest on him, so that he may retain his authority as King. By utilizing his power over Laertes, Claudius is successful, as Hamlet is slain, however, as reflected in Claudius’
The decisions of Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are utilized to show the importance of balancing thought with action in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The lives of the three characters are all following similar paths at the start of the play, but their personalities take them in very different directions. For Hamlet, the idea of revenge consumes him, and he becomes too obsessive to accomplish much of anything. Laertes on the other hand jumps into the pit of revenge too quickly, and gets lost in all the hubbub. However, Fortinbras knows how to carefully dance around the subject of revenge in a manner that he succeeds with little to no damage to himself. Although it is important to act quickly in tense situations, it is also important to not ponder so much that the opportunity is lost.
In William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras and Hamlet find themselves in similar situations. While Hamlet waits for the right time to avenge his father's death, Laertes learns of his father's death and immediately wants vengeance, and Fortinbras awaits his chance to recapture land that used to belong to his father. Laertes and Fortinbras go about accomplishing their desires quite differently than Hamlet. While Hamlet acts slowly and carefully, Laertes and Fortinbras seek their revenge with haste. Although Laertes and Fortinbras are minor characters, Shakespeare molds them in order to contrast with Hamlet. Fortinbras and, to a greater extent, Laertes act as foils to Hamlet with respect to their motives for revenge, execution of their plans and behavior while carrying out their plans.