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Similarities and differences between Hamlet and Laertes
Family relationship in hamlet
Family relationship in hamlet
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Both men had much in common with each other since the beginning because their family conflicts expanded significantly; the same emotions were triggered and provoked them to plot similar actions. As expected, Hamlet and Laertes are second generation sons who are future prominent leaders, but their fathers are in the way from achieving such expectations. Both of them battle the same issue of family troubles as their fathers constantly hold them back by keeping them under surveillance. With Laertes, Polonius is drastically overprotective of his kids, especially towards his son. He tends to be secretive about his supervision due to the fact that he only confides with certain characters and never shares his plot to any suspects. He confides in his …show more content…
Early on in the play, Hamlet Sr. was already murdered by his despising uncle and crowned king. In the middle of the events, Polonius ends up murdered inadvertently by none other than Hamlet, who mistook him for Claudius. At this point, it’s more evident that Hamlet and Laertes are definite foils of each other not just for the loss of their father, but also for the emotions and actions they plan to plot for justice. When Hamlet Sr. deceased, Hamlet would describe his emotions in a soliloquy such as “O that this too too sallied flesh would melt” (1.2.129). Hamlet became devastated and depressed at his father’s sudden death. He felt as if his emotions and world was melting. Hamlet wanted to melt away from these problems permanently by committing suicide, but instead decides to fight for his father’s name. After taking time to grieve, Hamlet then changes his disparity into envy as he knows that Claudius isn’t the rightful king. Similarly, Laertes becomes stunned and sorrow over his father’s murder. He publically displays anger by immediately barging inside the castle and barking for some answers; while in reality, it’s the pretext to conceal his sadness. He exclaims “Let come what comes, only I’ll be reveng’d mostly thoroughly for my father” (4.5.136-137). In these lines, Laertes’ emotions are speaking volume as he fears nothing and desires revenge against the man who committed such actions. Hamlet also reflects the same traits as Laertes excepts when he promises revenge, he claims “haste me know’t, that I with wings as swift. As meditation through love, may sweep to my revenge” (1.5.29-30). Hamlet asserts the sooner he finds out the details of the fallout, the quicker he will be able to avenge his father’s death. Ironically, he promises that it will be quicker than instant love when in reality, Laertes acts quicker than Hamlet for revenge.
Throughout the play, Laertes is as an extremely caring member of his family. His strong emotions for family have an opposing side to it, a shadow that has repressed feelings of anger which cause him to add to the disaster in Denmark. An example that depicts this is when Laertes attempts to request more rites for Ophelia’s funeral. After he is denied, he starts a commotion by calling the priest “churlish”, explaining that Ophelia will be “A ministering angel” while the priest will “liest howling”(5.1.217-218). His compliments to Ophelia shows how much he loved her, while his nasty insults to the priest show his repressed rage. While this is occuring, Hamlet hears Laertes’s mention of Ophelia during the commotion and throws himself into a brawl with Laertes. It is the conflict built up from there that causes Claudius to target Laertes as his next weapon to kill Hamlet with. Laertes’s deep anger for Hamlet makes himself the best candidate for Claudius’s manipulation. Once Laertes’s sides with Claudius, he shows his dark intent by requesting Claudius to not “o'errule me to a peace”(4.7.58). On the day of the duel, Laertes undergoes a confrontation of his shadow while he clashes with Hamlet. His realization of his shadow comes too late into the duel when both Hamlet and Laertes are struck by poison, as this happens he declares that he is “ justly killed with mine own treachery (5.2.337).” In the moments that he is still alive, he dismisses his shadow and ends the circle of murder by announcing the true nature of Claudius. Laertes’s repressed anger guides the play into the duel where many deaths occur including Hamlet’s.
The first foil or character that sets off Hamlet, in the play is Laertes. After King Hamlet's death, he, along with Prince Hamlet, return to Denmark for the funeral services. That is the first sign that Laertes will become a foil to Hamlet in the play. Both Laertes and Hamlet are very fond of Laertes' sister, Ophelia, which is the second similarity of the two. Another similarity of Laertes and Hamlet is the father figure of each, Polonius to Laertes and Claudius to Hamlet, has someone to watch them to see if they are acting accordingly. [accordingly?] In act two, scene one, Polonius instructs Reynaldo to go to Paris to give Laertes money and messages, and to find other Danes that will give him gossip about Laertes. In act two, scene two, Claudius instructs Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out why Hamlet is acting so strangely. The next similarity of Laertes and Hamlet is that they both grieve over a death in the play. Laertes grieves the death of Ophelia, while Hamlet grieves over his father, King Hamlet's death. The final similarity of Laertes and Hamlet is that both seek revenge for the death of their fathers. Laertes wishes to kill Hamlet after Hamlet murders Polonius and Hamlet wants to kill Claudius for the murder of King Hamlet. Both succeed in their quest for revenge.
Hamlet questions what may or may not happen however Laertes just wants the revenge fast and effective. Although these characters have different standards when it comes to revenge, they both immediately blamed and directed their anger towards Claudius when they found out their father’s were dead. Hamlet’s reason to blame Claudius is simply because he is his father’s murderer. In 1.5 while Hamlet is talking to the ghost of his father he says, “Haste me to know ’t, that I, with wings as swift/As meditation or the thoughts of love/May sweep to my revenge” (Shakespeare 1.5.31-33). At first is seems as if Hamlet would seek revenge right away because he seems eager to find out who the killer is and when he does find out he says he knew it was Claudius all along. He is furious and after this part in the play, Hamlet’s anger is mainly focused on Claudius. On the other hand when Laertes found out Polonius is dead he went straight to Claudius assuming it was him. By doing this he shows that he is controlled by his impulses unlike Hamlet who waited until he got proof to act on his fury. Laertes also blamed Claudius for not giving his father a proper burial, which can relate to Hamlet’s anger too because Hamlet felt as if there was not enough mourning for his father death. Not only did they both lose their fathers, but they both lost Ophelia, a female figure in their lives that they both loved.
His father was killed by Hamlet and his sister was driven insane due to the series of events that took place because of Hamlet. Like Hamlet, Laertes wants to avenge his father by killing the man who killed Polonius. As described earlier, Hamlet is slow to act. Laertes, on the other hand, acts quickly and with precision, wasting no time in acquiring his target and formulating a plan. Robert Palfrey Utter, Jr., puts it best, Hamlet and Laertes both come to the same conclusion that murder must be carried out, but Hamlet reaches that conclusion only “after he has had a few minutes to think it over.” (140) Once Laertes finds out that the man who killed his father was Hamlet he is ready to charge in and kill him as soon as possible. He is only stopped by Claudius, who advises him on a more subtle approach. Straight off the bat it is clear how efficient Laertes is compared to Hamlet. Hamlet wastes a large amount of time scheming up complex ideas on how to get a confession out of Claudius and how to kill him. Laertes on the other hand wastes no time in getting a straight and to the point plan that he can execute immediately. After spending more than half the play watching Hamlet squirm around on the stage getting almost nothing accomplished, the audience would be acutely aware of the stark difference between Hamlet and Laertes even though they share the same motivations. Laertes has his speed but he shares in Hamlets lack of critical thinking when he gets hot headed. He is in such a blind rage that he doesn’t think on what he is agreeing to do with Claudius. Just like Hamlet, his brash actions cost those around him his life. In carrying out the plan, the King, the Queen, Hamlet, and he all die to the poison that was used in the duel. Hamlet was slow and reckless while Laertes was quick and reckless. Wilds sums up the relationship between Hamlet and Laertes perfectly, “Laertes and Hamlet have been foils to each other
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.
Hamlet's response to the grief of his father is very different from Laertes. Laertes responded immediately to the death. He showed his anger to others, he didn't hide it inside. He is also suspicious, it's evident in his speech to Claudius, he asked, "How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with. / To hell, allegiance" (Act 4, 5: 130)! Hamlet however is very private with his grief. He mourned long and hard for the death of Old King Hamlet, even two months after his father's death, after his mother's wedding to Claudius. He is still observed by Claudius and Gertrude to be wearing " . . . Suits of solemn black"
[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’
Hamlet is seen mourning the loss through wearing black clothes in the beginning of the play. After learning the possible cause of his father’s death, he procrastinates taking action immediately and waits until he finds the right opportunity. This is seen through his play taunting the reaction of Claudius and by turning back on killing him while praying in Act (). Laertes in contrast, goes straightforward to the direct cause, bringing a mob with him and asking Claudius directly for the reason of the murder. Seeing the lack of honour given to Polonius in his funeral and his sister turning crazy as a result, has fueled his desire to take revenge on Hamlet. Hamlet is seen to relate to Laertes situation saying “But I am very sorry, good Horatio, / That to Laertes I forgot myself; / For, by the image of my cause, I see / The portraiture of his: I 'll court his favours. / But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me / Into a towering passion” (5.2.80-85). The motives of Fortinbras were first learned in Act one through Horatio talking about how the old king Hamlet beat his father in a battle for territory. Now that Hamlet Sr. has died, Fortinbras has grown eager to take back what his father had lost with a strong desire to fight. In further contrast to both Hamlet and Laertes, Fortinbras plans out his actions rationally and executes them wisely. Hamlet in the play is even seen acknowledging these two people
... the only way to honour his father Polonius is by killing Hamlet. In addition, as Claudius reads the letter from Hamlet to Laertes he says “'Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked” And in a postscript here, he says “alone.” Can you advise me?” (IV, VII, 52-53). This shows that Claudius takes advantage of Hamlet’s return alone as an opportunity for Laertes to kill him. Through Claudius’s actions the readers observe how he deceives Laertes into killing Hamlet for his own benefit without getting blood on his hands. Furthermore, Claudius’ desperation to kill Hamlet leads to him losing sight of what is important, which is being the king of Denmark, what he originally wanted, instead the lies he told and the manipulation he spread is now taking over. To conclude, it is evident through the play that the words and actions of Claudius have only lead to the spread of deception.
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. Each characters father had a substantially high social class in their respective countries, which in turn gives them high social class as well. With Hamlet and Fortinbras as sons of kings and Laertes as the son of an aristocrat of high regard in the Danish court, all had a lot to loose if unsuccessful in their ploy. Each of the sons believed that the killers had dishonored their fathers as well as themselves. Each acts in a way that they consider to be an attempt at restoring it to the family, as honor was a significant thing to uphold in this day.
He has the ability to perform tasks that may be unpleasant or dangerous. Laertes does not simply try to kill someone by thinking cautiously the whole time, but by directly confronting them and facing them head-on. When Laertes returns home to Denmark he even confronts Claudius about the death of his father. Swearing Laertes says “I dare damnation. To this point I stand,/That both the worlds I give to negligence,/Let come what comes, only I’ll be reveng’d/Most throughly for my father.” (IV. v. 133-136). With this declaration Laertes plots with Claudius to kill Hamlet and they construct a plan to have Laertes fence with Hamlet and for him to kill him. They instrument a plot of revenge for the death of Polonius, quickly coming up with three ways to kill Hamlet: stabbing him with an unblunted sword, placing poison on the sword, and poisoning Hamlet’s drink (IV. vii.). After they construct this plan they swiftly utilize the plan. Laertes did not wait for the perfect moment, at the perfect time, and at the perfect place. He created the place, time, and moment to carry out the dangerous task. Hamlet, however, waited and waited for what he thought one day would be the perfect moment in which he could kill his uncle. Even when Hamlet had an opportunity to kill Claudius, he talked himself out of it. When compared to Laertes, Hamlet is a coward because of his inability to
After wrestling Laertes in Ophelia’s grave, Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for losing control when he says, “That to Laertes I forgot myself,/ For by the image of my cause I see/ The portraiture of his. I'll court his favours./ But sure the bravery of his grief did put me/ Into a tow'ring passion” (Shakespeare V.ii.3730-3735). Hamlet admits that he should be unbothered by Laertes’ grief. Hamlet blames his actions on his “mental illness,” and this deed proves his sanity because Hamlet realizes that Laertes would be more likely to forgive him since Hamlet’s wrestling Laertes was not a just, true intention, rather a result of his apparent insanity; Hamlet is able to get the blame off of himself in this way. Hamlet shows his sanity in this instance because a mentally insane person would not go out of his or her way to apologize for his or her actions. Later in the play, Laertes makes a plan with Claudius to kill Hamlet. Laertes wants revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father and his sister. Claudius wants to kill Hamlet because of how much Hamlet threatens Claudius and his throne by knowing the truth of King Hamlet’s death. During a duel between Laertes and Hamlet, Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, betrays Claudius by drinking the poison cup and confessing the truth to Hamlet. Although Laertes and Hamlet have both been slain by each other at this point and are bound to die
According to Osric, the public loves Laertes because he is “an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of soft society and great showing… [and] he is the card or calendar of gentry…” (5.2.104-07). In comparison to Hamlet, Claudius says that he cannot punish Hamlet because the public loves him (4.7.17-18). Finally, Hamlet and Laertes test theit masculinity through sword fight. Before the fight, Hamlet already asks for apology to Laertes for the trouble that he had done in Ophelia’s burial and killing Polonius (5.2.210-16). However, something is unexpected to happen. Gertrude dies from drinking the poisoned cup, which puts Laertes in the stage of realization that it is “the king… to blame” (5.2.313-314). He asks for forgiveness after knowing the truth, and forgives Hamlet for accidentally killing Polonius (5.2.322-23). Hamlet and Laertes both display what it takes to be a true man. This attribute greatly adds to the comparison between these two characters, but another idea that affects their actions is pursuing revenge.
When Laertes hears of his father’s death, he wasted no time in confronting Claudius even threatening to take his crown. Claudius tells Laertes he’s not responsible for his dad’s death, Hamlet is and begins to manipulate him. Because of Laertes’ annoyance and anguish he vows to take revenge on Hamlet. “To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father,” (IV.v.135-136). Claudius tries to convince Laertes to wait for Hamlet’s return from England to seek his revenge. The king tells Laertes that he will compete against hamlet in a fencing and match and promises him that he will be victorious in beating Hamlet. The king believed that his plan was secure in killing Hamlet. During the fencing match he will attempt to serve Hamlet poison wine and if that plan fails Laertes will use a poison tipped sword to kill him. Laertes response to his dad’s passing uncovered requital as an intent to bring conclusion to Polonius’
Laertes burning rage overcomes any doubt in his mind about the consequences that may follow with abruptly storming into the castle. Laertes is no coward in the face of fear for his fiery rage possesses powerful courage in those who are strong enough to obtain it. The resentment Laertes feels for the death of his family against Hamlet burns within him, for he knows it was Hamlets fault that his father was stabbed by mistake and his sister, Ophelia, drove herself crazy. Therefore, Laertes teams up with Claudius, Hamlets uncle, in order to give Hamlet the revenge that he deserves, “My Lord, I will be ruled…devise it so that I might be the organ” (IV vii 69-70). The plan currently being devised by Claudius and Laertes is extremely courageous for Laertes wants to be the only one to slay Hamlet. Laertes will be protected by the king, for the king wants Hamlet dead as well. Laertes courageousness shines through in creating a long thought out plan with other options if the first idea will not work out. The courage shines through in Laertes making sure every little detail is executed properly in him and Claudius’ plan.