Compare and contrast Hamlet and Laertes

Richard Li

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Every hero needs a villain. That is not only true for all films, but it is also true for
Shakespeare. In Hamlet, while Hamlet exhibits little heroic traits, he is the hero of the
play nonetheless, and to match him, is Laertes. While Laertes, being Hamlets foil
character, exhibits many distinctly contrasting traits comparing to Hamlet, he also has
many similar or parallel characteristics to Hamlet. In fact, upon examining the story of
Hamlet and Laertes side by side, even though they possess numerous differences, the two
characters exhibit many similar characteristics, in terms of their character, situation and
actions.
Because the entire play of Hamlet revolves around a central theme of revenge,
and it is a theme shared by both characters, it is no wonder that Hamlet and Laertes share
very similar characteristics. Starting very early in the play, Hamlet learns the nature of his
fathers death and becomes obsessed with the task of acquiring revenge, as he said
during his encounter with the ghost of his father: Yea, from the table of my memory/ Ill
wipe away all trivial fond records/ And thy commandment all alone shall live/ Within
the book and volume of my brain. (1,5,99-104) In comparison, while it wasnt his main
driving force in the play, near the end revenge becomes Laertes passion and driving force
after he learns the fate of his father. As Laertes said: Vows can go to hell but Ill get
revenge for my father. (4, 5, 129) Blindly driven by revenge, both characters are willing to
do anything, including murder to avenge their fathers death, and eventually, both
characters will end up sacrificing their lives to finish their goal and mission that was
bestowed upon them. However, even though both characters demonstrate such similar
traits, Hamlet differs from Laertes distinctly in that Hamlet is a very dramatic and
philosophical character, where as in comparison Laertes appears rough and undefined.
Often bursting in dramatic monologues, Hamlet seems to consider himself quite a
theatrical actor, and his famous Alas, poor Yorick! (5, 1, 168) Where he talks to the skull
of Yorick the jest, only proves decisively the dramatic character Hamlet is. In comparison,
Laertes is much blunter, and while Hamlet lacks no dramatic monologues that often span
the length of 30 lines or more, Laertes speaks rarely for more than 8 lines at a time.
Through this comparison, one can see that the character of Hamlet and Laertes are
fundamentally different, yet share many similar traits. Similarly, characters aside, Hamlet
and Laertes also share many parallel in their situations throughout the play.
From the beginning of the play, Laertes offers a stark contrast to Hamlets fate in
that right after Hamlet was introduced in Customary suits of solemn black (1, 2, 78) from
his mourning of the death of his father, Laertes is introduced while being blessed by his
father, Polonius. Yet despite this difference, Hamlet and Laertes situation shares
remarkable resemblance. Both the hair to a noble family, Hamlet and Laertes both has a
deep affection for their father, obvious from their actions after their death. Both of the
characters wishes to leave Denmark, Laertes to France and Hamlet to Wittenberg, and as
if coincidently, both characters were spied on by their father, albeit Hamlets father is
also his uncle. Polonius sent Renaldo to Observe [Laertes] inclination in [thy]self (2, 1,
70) in secret, lying and spreading rumors about Laertes in order to learn his actions in
France, and similarly the two former friends of Hamlet, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz,
were sent by the king to draw [Hamlet] on to pleasures and to gather, (2, 2, 15)
information on the reason behind Hamlets insanity. Also similarly, Laertes and Hamlet
then died the same way, cut and poisoned by the same sword, and also from similar
reason: Hamlet from avenging the death of his father and Laertes from avenging his.
Observing the situations which both Hamlet and Laertes resides in, while there exists
occasional differences, the situation of Hamlet and Laertes stays largely parallel with one
another. It is no surprise that, therefore, because of these similarities, that Hamlet and

Laertes actions throughout the play, while each exhibiting uniqueness, runs vastly parallel
with one another also.
Being the foil of Hamlet, Laertes shows many differences in actions from Hamlet,
yet a majority of his actions also runs very similarly compared to him. Both characters
loved Ophelia deeply, and both Hamlet and Laertes showed very similar actions upon
Ophelias death, jumping into her grave and demanding to be buried along with her, while
both claiming to have loved Ophelia, (5, 1, 255) wrestling with each other from arguing
who loves Ophelia more. Also since both characters motive: revenge, is so similar, both
Hamlet and Laertes demonstrates similar actions when it revolves around revenge. Driven
by revenge, both characters are very conniving in their attempts to punish their
perpetrator. In order to flush out Claudius true nature, Hamlet stages a play that depicts
the murder of King Hamlet wherein [he]ll catch the conscience of the king. (2, 2, 584)
Similarly, after learning that Hamlet is responsible for the death of his father Polonius,
Laertes immediately starts plotting with Claudius in order to kill Hamlet, even stooping so
low as to anoint [his] sword [with] an unction of a mountebank,/ So mortal that, but
dip a knife in it,/ Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, [nothing] can save the thing
from death/ That is scratched withal. (4, 7, 140-146) However one distinct difference that
separates Hamlet from Laertes is their method in acquiring revenge. Once learned of the
nature of his fathers death, Hamlet is methodical and philosophical in his approach,
analyzing and over-analyzing his actions, as seen from his self argument when he had the
chance to kill Claudius at the church where he debated arduously whether or not to end
his life right at that moment. Laertes, however, is rash and violent in his actions to avenge
his father, and after learning about his fathers death Laertes immediately leads an army
to storm into the kings castle, demanding blood, and in contrast to Hamlets inability to
kill Claudius at the church, Laertes had no problem cut[ing] his throat Ith church. (4, 7,
127) Even though Hamlet can be rash also, as seen from where stabbed his sword through
the arras where Polonius was hiding without thinking or consideration of consequences,
this methodical and over analysis of actions serves as a major contrast to Laertes, even
though they share plentitude of similarities in their actions, such as their plotting to
avenge their father, and their love for Ophelia.
All throughout Hamlet, Hamlet and his foil character Laertes exhibits not only
starkly contrasting qualities, but also vastly similar traits through their character, situation
and action developments. As the story of Hamlet develops, Shakespeares brilliance
shines through as he creates his characters, that is, embodies his characters with
emotions or traits of human nature. Hamlet with his methodical reasoning and cowardice,
and Laertes rash and impulsive, yet passionate nature, both serves as a window into the
human world where we see the imperfections of our thoughts and actions. Throughout the
play, while it is obvious that Hamlet and Laertes have both extremely similar traits and
vastly different characteristics, both characters are flawed, and through their mad actions
to avenge their father, both suffered a similarly fatal fate. While their intentions could be
argued as just, the tragic results of their actions, the consequences and the end for not
only themselves but other innocent bystanders as well invokes a simple yet important
question in the heart of all readers: Does the end justify the means?