Moberly (1870) "Hamlet wishes . Laertes unlike Hamlet and Fortinbras is dangerously upfront about his revenge and will stop at nothing . . Laertes is impulsive and rash, while Fortinbras is calm and collected. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras bring the theme of revenge to life, revealing the complexity and richness of human feelings. They all had love and respect for their fathers and felt the need to avenge their deaths. This shows that there is a sense of love and loyalty within Polonius' family. Although Laertes and Fortinbras are minor characters, "Shakespeare molds them in order to contrast with Hamlet" ("Foils in Hamlet"). This is first done at the beginning of the play, when we learn that Hamlet has slain Fortinbras' father and that Hamlet has taken Fortinbras' father's land. 'there are five pairs of revenger sons' (Hamlet and OH, Fortinbras and Old Fortinbras, Laertes and Polonius, Pyrrhus and Achilles, and Brutus and Old Brutus). Laertes and Hamlet both share a common goal, revenge for the murder of their father. However, they differ in terms of their nobility, as well as their father's behaviour. Fortinbras, Laertes and Claudius are all faced with crises similar to situations that Hamlet faces, and yet the reaction of each man in their personal situation varies from Hamlet's own methods of dealing with the same issues. . Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras The theme of revenge is widely represented in the novel of William Shakespeare 'Hamlet'. Unlike Hamlet, he was fully driven by emotions and was easily influenced, he didn't analyze any detail or actions he had to take for revenge, which eventually led him to death by his own sword. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras relate in circumstance, however each man differs in their reactions to the death of their father. By highlighting the comparisons and contrasts of both characters, I shall show that through creating Fortinbras Shakespeare was about to elaborate . The way the each comes to terms with their grief and how they rise to the call of vengeance is one of main contrasts between the three.Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Moberley (Laertes) Hamlet wishes . Michael Stultz, M.A. Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Hamlet lies in the middle of this spectrum. Ironically, Laertes, Hamlet, and Claudius die by the same sword. -Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. The way the each comes to terms with their grief and how they rise to the call of vengeance is one of main contrasts between the three. Where Hamlet is contemplative and frozen by emotions, Laertes is reactive and quick to action. recapture land that used to belong to his father. Sometime the minor character is in the play so the major character has someone to speak with. Bibliography A student at a university in France, Laertes is gallant, worldly, hotheaded, and obsessed with his family's honor. He is a man of action and a soldier which, in the first place, is the opposite of Hamlet in those respects. Fortinbras is the nephew of the King of Norway. Walter N. King (1982) The student demonstrates how, although these characters are parallels of one another, each one goes about seeking revenge for his father's death in a different way. In William Shakespeare's theatrical play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, Prince Fortinbras, and Laertes have all lost their fathers due to tragic circumstances. It could say that Shakespeare set Laertes and Fortinbras . Revenge is the key in provoking the savage capabilities of a mind as reason is often disregarded, through the anger and hate that leads one's . Ophelia, the daughter, loves Hamlet, but the father, Polonius, and the brother, Laertes, feel Hamlet is toying with her and are worried about . Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are three main characters that reveal the feeling of revenge. Hamlet uncle kills Hamlet farther and don't tell anyone. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are three young men who are . Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are three young men who are placed in similar circumstances, that is, to avenge their father's deaths. Laertes, Hamlet's late antagonist, is both impulsive and righteous. In Hamlet's era it was only considered somewhat understandable to take someone's . Character Analysis Laertes. Consider this, if Laertes had been forgiving of Hamlet when he admitted his mistake of killing Polonius, both of them would have survived. Hamlet finds happiness in the daughter of the tenant. Small Fortinbras has additionally lost his father, Fortinbras, as we come to know by Horatio's presentation that California king Hamlet "Did slay this Fortinbras. to go, not as Laertes does, to Paris, the centre of frivolous gaiety (and study music and fencing there), but to Wittenberg, the university dear to the . The importance of Fortinbras and Laertes in the play is an issue much discussed, analysed and critiqued. Still, Hamlet refers to Laertes as "a very noble youth." Hamlet recognizes what Shakespeare has made abundantly clear throughout the . -Laertes learns of his fathers death and immediately wants vengeance while Fortinbras awaits his chance to. Laertes learns of his father's murder and decides that he must have his revenge upon Hamlet (4.7.160-61). Laertes and Fortinbras are two very different characters, and yet they both serve as foils for Hamlet in Shakespeare's play. And yet, despite their differences, both Laertes and Fortinbras expose certain . Verity (F) Fortinbras, the resolute man of action, set over against Hamlet, the hesitating dreamer: and the contrast is made . The Prince of Norway. Death, sexual promiscuity, and treachery permeate the entire play. Despite the dark plot of this play, it has become known as Shakespeare's most famous literary work. Fortinbras, without question encompasses many of Hamlet's qualities. And yet, despite their differences, both Laertes and Fortinbras expose certain . They all had love and respect for their fathers and felt the need . The scales are broken. Both Laertes and Hamlet grieve deeply for their fathers, but Laertes acts upon this grief while Hamlet carefully plots his revenge and waits for the perfect timing to avenge King Hamlet. Hamlet's reaction to the ghost changed . Stewart (1914) "Laertes is very naturally overcome with grief as they prepare to throw dirt upon his sister' and not just to 'outface' Hamlet". Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. But, for better or worse, Fortinbras and Laertes do serve as foils to Hamlet. Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Fortinbras . The character of Fortinbras is the foil that is most similar to Hamlet in regards to circumstance. Laertes and Fortinbras are both representatives of action, and suck furnish a most expressive contrast to the non-activity of the Danish prince. Contrast. Like Hamlet, Sr., Fortinbras is an empire builder who desires only to fight for glory and so, in an ironic way, he is fitted by character to inherit the kingdom of Hamlet, Sr. LeartesLaertes is a young man whose good instincts have been somewhat obscured by the concern with superficial appearances which he has imbibed from his father, Polonius. Eventually Shakespeare rewards Fortinbras with the kingdom of Denmark. How they go about seeking revenge. For example, both Hamlet and Laertes are looking to avenge their father's deaths, but, the . . However, through the play three characters chose different ways to avenge for their fathers' death. His father was killed by Hamlet's father, and Fortinbras is looking for revenge. Horatio. Laertes. Fortinbras, frequently referred to in the play, Hamlet, as "young" Fortinbras, is one of Shakespeare's most minor characters.He has no dramatic relevance and hardly appears in the play at all. In Shakespeare's great tragedy Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras, and Hamlet find themselves in similar situations. Hamlet Laertes And Fortinbras In Hamlet 948 Words | 4 Pages. Like Laertes, Fortinbras is shown as someone capable of taking direct action and fulfilling his own ambition. In addition, after Polonius' death Ophelia goes mad, indicating that there is a sense of attachment and love the Ophelia, Polonius, and Laertes feel towards each other. Hamlet is the main character of the play. He is a man of action and a soldier which, in the first place, is the opposite of Hamlet in those respects. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team. Each loses his father, and each has reason to seek revenge. Hamlet Contrasting Fortinbras and Laertes with Hamlet in William Shakespeare tragedy Hamlet.Laertes,Fortinbras and Hamlet find them selves in similar situations, while Hamlet waits for the right time to avenge his fathers death,Laertes learns of his fathers death and immediately wants vengeance,and Fortinbras awaits his chance to recapture the land that used to belong to his father.Laertes and . Laertes. Hamlet also has a love interest, Ophelia. Laertes and Fortinbras can be seen as two endpoints of the characterization of Hamlet. What we are trying to say here is that family #1 is a foil for family #2. In fact, it is Laertes' quick action that causes the play to end, for had Laertes been unable to act, he would never have killed Hamlet. However, the way they go about this is different. They are also important in Hamlet as they are imperative to the plot of the play and the final resolution. -Laertes was corrupted by Claudius to become an ally to kill Hamlet. He is the Prince of Denmark, whose father has recently died. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are three main characters that reveal the feeling of revenge. Laertes is motivated by revenge, while Fortinbras is motivated by duty. . -Fortinbras' father was killed by King Hamlet during a man to man battle with . Eleanor Prosser (1967) "Laertes is not a whiff of fresh air. Fortinbras is the prince of neighboring Norway. Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France. In this comparative essay, the student looks at the characters of Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras in Shakespeare's Hamlet. At the same time, while Hamlet is driven by grief, Fortinbras . One of these foils is the character of Laertes. Laertes attempts to defend his families honour by getting revenge for his father's death. Fortinbras, enraged and seeking vengeance . He spends too much time thinking about his actions and takes no immediate action without premeditative thought.