What Are Laertes A Foil To Hamlet

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeare’s most notorious pieces of literature. Published in the early sixteenth century, the play continues to be the longest of all Shakespeare’s plays and the most famous as well. In the very beginning of the play, Hamlet is visited by a captivating ghost similar to his recently deceased father, the King of Denmark. The ghost informs Hamlet that his father was poisoned by Claudius, the King’s brother. Claudius then went on to take the throne and also marry Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. The Ghost persuades Hamlet to avenge his father’s death by killing King Claudius. The task given to Hamlet causes a great deal of internal conflict. What is so appealing about this masterpiece is the

Laertes plays as a foil to Hamlet, and his expedition for revenge is emphasized heavily at the end of the plot. Although Laertes is absent for most of the play, the casualties of both his father and sister led him to thirst for vengeance like no other. Hamlet murdered Laertes’s father, Polonius, when he thought he was slaying Claudius instead. Laertes’s sister, Ophelia, and lover of the Prince Hamlet, drowned while mourning the death of her father. Shakespeare depicts Laertes as a foil to Hamlet. Laertes’ significance to the play is to depict contrast with Hamlet, as well, to give Hamlet a final emotion to act upon his impending revenge, instead of thinking and justifying revenge. Laertes wanted revenge for the murder of his father and immediately confronts Claudius, who he believes is at fault. When he discovers Hamlet is at fault, he immediately seeks revenge against him. Laertes’ want for revenge is accompanied by Claudius’ want to kill Hamlet, and therefore when Laertes acts upon his revenge, Hamlet is also given the opportunity. Although it takes the entire plot of the play before Hamlet acts upon revenge, he does eventually avenge his father. Since Laertes acts almost instantaneously, Laertes and Hamlet are foils for each other. Laertes, holding anxious vengeance, meets Hamlet in the final act:

“I am satisfied in nature./ Whose motive in this case should stir me most/ To my revenge. But in my terms of honor/ I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement. Till by some elder masters, of known honor,/ I have a voice and precedent of peace/ To keep my name ungored. But till that time/ I do receive your offered love like love/ and will not wrong it” (Shakespeare