Laertes And Fortinbras As Foils To Hamlet Play - Free Books Summaries

he wants revenge just before they duel, stating that he is “satisfied in nature, / Whose motive in this case should stir [him] most / To [his] revenge” (V. i. 259-261). Laertes claims he will put off his revenge for the time being, yet he will still seek it nonetheless. Fortinbras and Laertes are in contrast to Hamlet in these instances because they both “declare their revenge, whereas Hamlet is much more secretive about his plans” (Prosser 164). Instead of declaring his revenge to Claudius, Hamlet uses a series of puns to show his frustration and anger with the king. When Hamlet feels that Claudius is getting too close to him, Hamlet uses his wit as self defense to keep Claudius in check and tells him that he s “more than kin, and less than kind” (I. . 67). Hamlet uses many other puns to convey his “antic disposition” (I. v. 192) as well as to keep his plans of killing Claudius secret. Just as Fortinbras and Hamlet contrast in many other respects, “they are opposites with respect to their values and morals” (“Foils in Hamlet”). In this case, however, Laertes exhibits some morals that are similar to Hamlet’s. Shakespeare portrays Fortinbras as being concerned with material possession in the play. The Norwegian prince seems determined to build up his kingdom no matter what the cost.

Fortinbras also displays that “he has no regard for the tragedy” (Lavender 91) that just unfolded before his arrival in the last scene of the play. He immediately asserts his power, claiming he “[has] some rights of memory in [the] kingdom, / Which now to claim [his] vantage doth invite [him]” (V. . 432-433). In this scene, Fortinbras claims the throne in front of Horatio, who has just seen his friend and many others die, which shows that he has no respect for the recent deaths. Laertes on the other hand, displays a few more morals than Fortinbras, but he, too, acts maliciously at times.

Once Laertes realizes he is wounded and poisoned, he forgives Hamlet and asks Hamlet for forgiveness: “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet / Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, / Nor thine on me” (V. . 361-333). Once Laertes sees how Claudius manipulated him and recognizes he will die from the poison, Laertes shows his morals by forgiving Hamlet and asking for his forgiveness. Laertes also harbors a dark side, which he displays when he wishes to “cut [Hamlet’s] throat i’ th’ church” (IV. v. 144).

This brings into question Laertes’ morals because “a murder in a church would be one of the most profane acts possible” (Levi 49). Hamlet is the character that the audience wants to like and sympathize with in the beginning of the play; however, they find it hard because he lacks some morals and values, just as Laertes and Fortinbras do. Shakespeare opens the play with events “swirling like a maelstrom” (“Much Ado about Hamlet: A Study in Shakespeare”) around Hamlet in order to create sympathy for the Danish prince. Hamlet, however, shows a lack of values when he slanders Ophelia in the play scene.

He continues this behavior when he delays