FREE ESSAY ON HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Hamlet
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the importance of characters Laertes and Fortinbras
have been an issue that's discussed and analyzed by many literary critics. Hamlet,
Laertes and Fortinbras are parallel characters in the play. Laertes and Fortinbras are
often use by Shakespeare to compare the actions and emotions of Hamlet throughout the
play. They are also important in Hamlet as they are imperative to the plot of the play
and the final resolution (Nardo, 88). Shakespeare placed these three men: Hamlet, Laertes
and Fortinbras into similar circumstances, which is, to avenge for their fathers' deaths.
The main difference between the three is the way that each of them comes to grief of
their fathers' deaths and the way they planned their vengeance.
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Shakespeare has made them similar in many aspects to
provide a greater base for comparison when avenging their respective fathers' deaths
(Nardo, 90). Both Hamlet and Laertes love Ophelia in different ways. Hamlet wishes
Ophelia to become his wife, Laertes loves Ophelia as a sister. Hamlet is a scholar at
Wittenberg; Laertes is also a scholar at France. Both were brought up under this royal
family of Denmark. And both are admired for their swordsmenship. But most important of
all, both of them loved and respected their fathers greatly, and showed great devotion
when plotting to avenge their fathers' deaths.
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 
(Act 1, 2 : 78). Claudius and Gertrude noticed and commented on his unhappiness, however,
Hamlet hides his feelings so well, it was not until his first soliloquy that we as
audiences learned the depth of his suffering.
We see the same contrast between Laertes and Hamlet again when they avenge their fathers'
deaths. Laertes again is fast to action, he wants immediate revenge for Polonius. His
immediate actions are based in anger and emotions, and therefore, rash. Also because of
his immediate want for revenge, Laertes is easily drawn into the manipulation of
Claudius. Claudius manipulates him into becoming an ally to kill Hamlet. Laertes is
confident with his abilities, he says ?? . . . my revenge will come; only I'll be
revenged / Most throughly for my father (Act 4 5:135). Contrasting to Laertes' quick
response, Hamlet procrastinates. Although, Hamlet wants to gain honor by avenging his
father's death, he is doubting and undecided of his abilities to do what he promised to
the Old King's Ghost. For two months Hamlet procrastinates, he agonizes over what he has
to do, and how he's going to avenge the murder of his father. While Laertes acts on
impulse. 
However, despite the impulsive actions of Laertes in challenging of a duel with Hamlet,
Laertes is without the cruelty and spitefulness of Hamlet. Hamlet not only wants to
avenge his father's death, he wants Claudius to be eternally punished, just like the Old
King Hamlet is tortured in hell. Therefore, Hamlet does not kill Claudius in the scene
where Claudius is praying, when there is a chance Claudius might had a chance to confess
all his sins. Laertes wants revenge, but he's not concerned with Punishment, he is
concerned with physical and the present. Hamlet however, cares about Claudius'
afterlife.
Hamlet and Laertes the two extremes of the act of revenge: Hamlet thinks reason before
action. Laertes acts on impulsion and without reasoning. Revenge was the driving force
behind both characters' actions and it led to their eventual down fall.
Fortinbras is the son of Old Fortinbras, King of Norway, killed during the battle with
King Hamlet. Through a Seal'd compact (Act 1, 1:89), the lands of Old Fortinbras were
forfeited to Denmark. Fortinbras, being the son of the Old King, vows to avenge his
father's death and reclaim the lands that were lost. Fortinbras shares similarities and
differences with Hamlet, Fortinbras is a scholar, a soldier, the man of procrastination
and the man of reason and action (Nardo, 101). 
From the way Fortinbras quickly gathers his army and his intent to attack Poland, ??we
can see that indeed he is an energetic vigorous leader with clear ambitions?? (Nardo,
105). He is definitely a solider. Hamlet however, is referred to as a soldier not only by
Fortinbras but also by Ophelia. But Hamlet seemed to me is much more a scholar than a
soldier. Hamlet ??has been at the University of Wittenberg, . . . and by training, such a
man learns to analyze problems, and his responses are never automatic because his
decisions come after contemplation rather than from impulse. Though Hamlet may be slow to
make a decision, that decision will be based on reason?? (Nardo, 64). 
The last scene of the play demonstrates the true character of Fortinbras. As he arrives
at Castle Elsinore, he quickly analyses the situation he finds then acts upon it. His
action to avenge his father??s death was therefore, carefully analyzed and executed as he
planned. Fortinbras?? ability to act upon reason and not emotion is one of the most
significant differences he has with Hamlet. As I mentioned before, Hamlet and Laertes
represent the extremes of action. Fortinbras therefore, is the midpoint of the two
extremes; his ability to reason and the act upon the reason has resulted in his
possession of both lands and throne he set out to avenge.