IB English
February 13th, 2013
February 13th, 2013
Hamlet’s Character
Foils – Laertes
In
Shakespeare’s drama “Hamlet,” the two characters Hamlet and Laertes are in
obvious contrast two each other. Hamlet - the son of the dead King Hamlet of
Denmark - is a contemplative, alecky, and moody young man, while Laertes, a
young Danish lord - son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia – is impulsive and
immediate. Both of them face very similar problematic issues: The desired
departure from home, being spied on, the death of Ophelia, and the murder of
their father respectively. By reference to these four situations it will be
discussed below how Hamlet and Laertes can be compared to each other.
In Act I, scene 2, it is revealed that Hamlet wants to return to England (lines 111 to 122). Similarly, Laertes wants to return to France (lines 50 – 56). Laertes asks for permission and receives – in addition to a lengthy advice from his father, see act I, scene 3 – approval to leave (lines 57 – 63). Hamlet, in contrast, obeys his step-father’s and mother’s will to stay in Denmark instead of following his heart’s desire (line 120). This comparison of the two character’s dealing with leaving Denmark suggests that Laertes takes a stand for himself while Hamlet rather subordinates himself. However, one needs to consider the circumstances of the moment, of course: Because Hamlet just lost his father, it can be assumed that he obeys Claudius and the queen because he does not want to cause further complications. Under different conditions, he might have had not obeyed, especially because he is so displeased about the marriage of his mother and Claudius.
It is noticeable that both Hamlet and Laertes are being spied on: Polonius, the father of Laertes, asks Reynaldo to spy on his son for reputation purposes (Act II, scene 1) while Claudius, the step-father of Hamlet, asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to ensure his own maintaining of power (Act II, scene 2). Therefore, both Laertes and Hamlet are tracked and observed by third parties which shows that they are sparsely trusted by their guardians. Just like the experience of their respective father’s death as discussed below, this incident represents an involuntary similarity between the two characters. While one finds out that Hamlet cleverly detects that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are manipulated by Claudius and spy on him (act II, scene 2), one does not get any information about how Laertes reacts on Reynaldo spying on him.
Concerning the death of Ophelia (act IV, scene 1), the two characters react opposing to each other. Just recently having suffered from the loss of his father, Laertes itches for a fight with Hamlet because it can be assumed that Ophelia killed herself partially because of the death of her father. It can be debated whether Hamlet therefore caused Ophelia’s death through his murder of Polonius, but Hamlet never expresses any guilt. In any way, Laertes’ grief must be intense because he really loved Ophelia, which can be seen through his care for her (act I, scene 3) and the way he passionately embraces her for one last time (act IV, scene 1). Hamlet, in comparison, seems shocked and suddenly declares his love for Ophelia at the funeral in fury, but it does not seem very credible because of the way he treated her before (see act III, scene 1). The two fight in Ophelia’s grave about who loved her more and Hamlet claims he is as willing to be buried with her as Laertes. He then challenges Laertes to settle the matter in another fight, which prefaces the end of the drama where all the main characters are killed.
Both Hamlet and Laertes have to face the death of their fathers respectively. The death of Hamlet’s father had a very depressing effect on him. He broods and asks himself a whole lot of questions before taking revenge for his father. Laertes, in contrast, takes immediate action. He storms back from France as soon as he finds out about Polonius’ death; he then starts a crowd and invades the palace. This shows Laertes’ impulsive and hasty character in contrast to Hamlet’s reserved nature. One could say while Laertes is passionate and active, Hamlet is passionately inactive. Laertes’ hastiness and little thought he spends on the consequences of his revenge catalyze the death of himself and the main characters in the end. He realizes this when he cries out “I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (act V, scene 1, line 337).
In conclusion, Hamlet and Laertes have to deal with similar crises. However, they react on them in different ways. While Hamlet is the one more pensive and passive, Laertes is impulsive and reacts immediately. In this way, Laertes is an obvious character foil to Hamlet.
In Act I, scene 2, it is revealed that Hamlet wants to return to England (lines 111 to 122). Similarly, Laertes wants to return to France (lines 50 – 56). Laertes asks for permission and receives – in addition to a lengthy advice from his father, see act I, scene 3 – approval to leave (lines 57 – 63). Hamlet, in contrast, obeys his step-father’s and mother’s will to stay in Denmark instead of following his heart’s desire (line 120). This comparison of the two character’s dealing with leaving Denmark suggests that Laertes takes a stand for himself while Hamlet rather subordinates himself. However, one needs to consider the circumstances of the moment, of course: Because Hamlet just lost his father, it can be assumed that he obeys Claudius and the queen because he does not want to cause further complications. Under different conditions, he might have had not obeyed, especially because he is so displeased about the marriage of his mother and Claudius.
It is noticeable that both Hamlet and Laertes are being spied on: Polonius, the father of Laertes, asks Reynaldo to spy on his son for reputation purposes (Act II, scene 1) while Claudius, the step-father of Hamlet, asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to ensure his own maintaining of power (Act II, scene 2). Therefore, both Laertes and Hamlet are tracked and observed by third parties which shows that they are sparsely trusted by their guardians. Just like the experience of their respective father’s death as discussed below, this incident represents an involuntary similarity between the two characters. While one finds out that Hamlet cleverly detects that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are manipulated by Claudius and spy on him (act II, scene 2), one does not get any information about how Laertes reacts on Reynaldo spying on him.
Concerning the death of Ophelia (act IV, scene 1), the two characters react opposing to each other. Just recently having suffered from the loss of his father, Laertes itches for a fight with Hamlet because it can be assumed that Ophelia killed herself partially because of the death of her father. It can be debated whether Hamlet therefore caused Ophelia’s death through his murder of Polonius, but Hamlet never expresses any guilt. In any way, Laertes’ grief must be intense because he really loved Ophelia, which can be seen through his care for her (act I, scene 3) and the way he passionately embraces her for one last time (act IV, scene 1). Hamlet, in comparison, seems shocked and suddenly declares his love for Ophelia at the funeral in fury, but it does not seem very credible because of the way he treated her before (see act III, scene 1). The two fight in Ophelia’s grave about who loved her more and Hamlet claims he is as willing to be buried with her as Laertes. He then challenges Laertes to settle the matter in another fight, which prefaces the end of the drama where all the main characters are killed.
Both Hamlet and Laertes have to face the death of their fathers respectively. The death of Hamlet’s father had a very depressing effect on him. He broods and asks himself a whole lot of questions before taking revenge for his father. Laertes, in contrast, takes immediate action. He storms back from France as soon as he finds out about Polonius’ death; he then starts a crowd and invades the palace. This shows Laertes’ impulsive and hasty character in contrast to Hamlet’s reserved nature. One could say while Laertes is passionate and active, Hamlet is passionately inactive. Laertes’ hastiness and little thought he spends on the consequences of his revenge catalyze the death of himself and the main characters in the end. He realizes this when he cries out “I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (act V, scene 1, line 337).
In conclusion, Hamlet and Laertes have to deal with similar crises. However, they react on them in different ways. While Hamlet is the one more pensive and passive, Laertes is impulsive and reacts immediately. In this way, Laertes is an obvious character foil to Hamlet.
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