Hamlet by William Shakespeare

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Recommended: Hamlet connection with his father

The complexity and effect of father-son relationships seems to be a theme that Shakespeare loved to explore in his writings. In Hamlet, the subject is used as a mechanism to identify the similarities between three very different characters: Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet. They have each lost their fathers to violent deaths, which leads them to seek vengeance. As different as they may seem, they all share the common desire to avenge their father’s deaths. The method they each approach this is what differentiates each of their characters, and allows the audience to discern their individual characteristics. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet’s intense loyalty to their fathers drives them to individual extreme measures of revenge, exemplifying Shakespeare’s masterful use of describing the human psyche during Elizabethan times.
One of the first things introduced in the play is the reason for all of the commotion and need for guards within Denmark. Horatio explains to Marcellus and Barnardo that Old Fortinbras challenged King Hamlet of Denmark to a duel in order to spare their countries from war. Old Fortinbras was slain, and under a valid legal document was forced to surrender all of his territories to his conqueror, King Hamlet. Young Fortinbras, King Fortinbras’ son, seeks to reclaim his father’s forfeited lands. He waited until King Hamlet passed away to carry out his plan of reclamation in fear of being challenged to a duel, as his main goal is not to achieve vengeance, but to acquire a small patch of land for his country’s honour. During Elizabethan times, revenge was categorized as either private or public. Fortinbras initially seeks revenge publicly through military force, but more for his country’s honour than in his father’s nam...

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...he sons: Fortinbras aims to gain honour for his country, Laertes seeks impulsive, cold-blooded killing, and Hamlet mostly ponders the morals of vengeance. Shakespeare’s impeccable characterization illuminates the human desire for revenge, and shows the various ways in which that impulse can be acted upon.

Works Cited

"Free Hamlet Essays: Father and Son Relationship :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet." Free Hamlet Essays: Father and Son Relationship :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

"A Futile Endeavor." A Futile Endeavor. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Rose, Emily. "Father/son Relationships in Hamlet." Prezi.com. N.p., 26 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Signet Classic, 1963. Print.

Thorns, Chris. " Fathers And Sons In Hamlet." Fathers And Sons In Hamlet. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

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