Hamlet Character Analysis Essay

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The Tragedy Triad Fortinbras, Laertes, Hamlet: hero, villain, mechanism of conflict. This triad is necessary to Shakespeare 's celebrated play, Hamlet. Despite his crucial role, the first named character is often absent in productions. Fortinbras represents the brave hero Hamlet wants to be and ultimately becomes, while Laertes represents Hamlet 's emotional self-doubt and self-hatred that drives the play 's conflict. The separate subplots of Fortinbras and Laertes mirror both Hamlet 's contradictory personality and the play’s plot. Hamlet 's deliberation in murdering Claudius results from the contradictory traits that quarrel within him. Henry MacKenzie notes contrasts in Hamlet 's personality, such as how he possesses the "strongest purposes of revenge" but is "irresolute and inactive," or how he holds the "gloom of the deepest melancholy" but is simultaneously "gay and jocular" (MacKenzie 150). This array of traits that …show more content…

(Shakespeare 5.1.203-208) Laertes ' hatred for Hamlet initially perplexes him. Claudius easily persuades Laertes into seeking revenge for Polonius ' death on Hamlet. Hardison notes how effortlessly his Claudius manages to influence Laertes character, as "once in the power of Claudius," Laertes "engages himself to perform acts of unmitigated treachery-- acts which are in direct violation of his own code of honor" (Hardison 157). Before Laertes dies, however, his views shift to the views he will die with, proclaiming: Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father 's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me. [LAERTES dies] (Shakespeare

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