When Hamlet receives his order for revenge from the ghost of his dead father, he is shocked and outraged. He vows to avenge his father by the death of Claudius. However, the following scenes do not show the undying dedication to the avengement of a father, but the unproductive meandering of a man unsure, a reluctant son. When compared to the actions of Laertes and Fortinbras, two other mean of power who lost their fathers, the differences are clear.

Almost the first thing that Hamlet does after speaking to the tortured soul of his father is to seek out more proof. Apparently for Hamlet the words of the actual victim of the murder from beyond the grave does not suffice the need for proof. He sets up some weak plot to watch the reaction of his uncle when he sees a play that reflected the events of his father's death. After he becomes certain of his uncle's guilt, he still does not kill Claudius. He starts to once, but Claudius is praying, and Hamlet decides to wait. What follows in t

Then there is Laertes. When Laertes comes to find about the death of his father, he abandons all thought and reluctance that Hamlet is dwelling in, and rallies his allies and storms the castle. Laertes is prepared to murder a King because of the death of his father, putting himself at grave danger. Laertes is seen in such a rage and fury that is never seen in Hamlet, even in the end when he finally does kill Claudius. It is not because Hamlet does not have the right to be as angry, it is not because he loved his father any less or wanted to avenge him any less, it is because Hamlet is just simply not a man of action.

Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, had almost the same thing happen to his father. Fortinbras' father was killed by Hamlet's father, Hamlet "Senior." Fortinbras is not walking through the halls of his castle acting insane, or setting up little plays. Fortinbras is out in the freezing weather with his army plotting to invade an entire nation to avenge the death of his father. Hamlet can't even kill one murderous lying sleaze who si

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Approximate Word count = 706
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)