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Nisha Gnawali 7th period 12/17/08 Laertes and Hamlet as Foil characters in Hamlet In Hamlet, Shakespeare includes many

characters that are foils to Hamlet . One of such character is Laertes. Laertes is a character that represents a foil to character in the way of seeking revenge. They have characteristics that are alike, but not identical . Laertes and Hamlet are alike in their search for revenge but different in their approach towards seeking out revenge, and they also respond to the crisis they face in a different manner. The foil characteristics of each character is important because it points out the flaws of each character Laertes and Hamlet are similar because both seek out revenge for their fathers death. Hamlet is inclined to avenge his fathers murder after meeting with the ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. (Act I. sc v. 25) Hamlet wants to honor his father by making sure his fathers murder does not go unpunished and is determined to get revenge on Claudius. Laertes is also determined to get revenge on his fathers, Poloniuss, murder. To hell with allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest negligence, let come what comes; only Ill be revenged most thoroughly for my father. (Act IV. sc v. 128134).Laertess words such as blackest devil, shows his strong feelings and honor towards his father. Both Hamlet and Laertes hold a great respect for their dead father . The position in which

Hamlet and Laertes seek revenge is also similar. Hamlet seeks revenge on Claudius because he killed Hamlets father, while Laertes seeks revenge on Hamlet since he killed Laertess father. As foil characters, Laertes and Hamlet are also different in their characteristics. Laertes is single-minded while Hamlet considers his actions thoroughly. When Laertes finds out his father has been murdered, he immediately assumes it was Claudius, O thou vile King, give me my father! (Act IV. Sc v. 90-91). His direct remark to the king shows that he is narrow-minded because he does not take the time to consider if someone else had the motive. Hamlets character contrasts with Laertes eagerness; he considers things more thoroughly while Laertes jumps into conclusions. Throughout the play, Hamlet appears more reserved than any of the characters in the play. Hamlet also wordplays a lot and hides his emotions behind a mask when faced with a certain character, whereas Laertes feels free to speak his mind and acts first. Hamlets ability to wordplay allows him to know what the other characters feel without giving away too much of his feelings. For example, when Laertes and Hamlet prepare for a fencing battle, Hamlet apologies towards Laertes for his actions but does not blame himself, instead he blames his madness. What I have done that might your nature, honor, and exception roughly awake, I here proclaim was madnesshis madness is poor Hamlets enemy. (Act V. sc ii 244-253). Hamlets reason to wordplay with Laertes could be that he was trying to see how Laertes truly felt. If Laertes truly believed that Hamlet was mad then perhaps he would forgive Hamlet. Laertes responds to Hamlets with I do receive your offered love like love and will not wrong it. (Act V.sc ii. 266267). Laertes intent to take Hamlets love as only love and not a request for forgiveness, once again shows how single-minded Laertes is. He refuses to acknowledge and fall for Hamlets trap and only sticks with what he believes.

Laertes and Hamlet are also different in the way they respond to the crisis they face. The main difference between Laertes and Hamlet is how they carry about their revenge; Hamlet procrastinates while Laertes jumps into action. Because Hamlet considers his actions thoroughly, he procrastinates to get his revenge until the end of the play. When Hamlet finds the perfect moment to take revenge on Claudius, he decides against it because Claudius is praying and Hamlet would be doing Claudius a favor by killing him and sending his soul to heaven, if he had killed Claudius when he was confronting with God. Throughout the play, Hamlet constantly nags himself about his actions and tries to gain some appetite for revenge, Oh what a rogue and a peasant slave am I! (Act II. Sc. ii 509). Laertes willingness to act decisively in avenging his fathers death contrasts with Hamlets indecisive inability to act. Laertes does not hesitate in taking actions the way Hamlet does. Laertes is eager to take action right away and we can see this when he confronts Claudius right away after hearing about his fathers murder. By looking at the characteristics of the foil characters, it highlights each others flaws and strengths. Laertes eager approach for revenge points out Hamlets need for procrastination. When the characters are compared, Hamlets specific traits stand out from the rest of the characters. Ill be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance your skill shall, like a star ith darkest night, stick fiery off indeed. (Act V. sc ii.272-274). In this quote, Hamlet is talking to Laertes before the fencing match and explains to him that Laertess skill for fencing will shine because he is fighting with his foil, Laertes.

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