Hamlet vs. Laertes
Some would say that Hamlet is the best work of William Shakespeare, and there are many points that prove this to be true. The play is so intricately woven together that there are many connections that can be made. One of the biggest connections is the difference and similarity of the characters Hamlet and Laertes. The first difference between them is the thought expressed by Hamlet and the action taken by Laertes, regarding the revenge of the death of each of their fathers. Next is the similarity of the situations that Hamlet and Laertes are in with their families. Finally, the treatment of Ophelia by both Hamlet and Laertes is also similar. Even though Hamlet and Laertes were enemies they still had things that were common between them. During the play, Hamlet was a man of much thought and little action, and Laertes was a man of quick action and little thought. When Hamlet first found out about the death of his father, the feelings of hate and revenge were high. An example of this is in this quote, "All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, that youth and observation copied there, and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain, unmixed with baser matter" (1.5.107)
Laertes' father's death was very similar to that of Hamlet's. Laertes' father was murdered, and at first Laertes just assumed it was the work of the king Claudius. This next quote gives an idea of the attitude of revenge that was felt by Laertes, "To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, that both the worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes, only I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father" (4.5.149). Laertes would have revenge for his father's death at any cost. When Laertes found out it was Hamlet who killed his father, he felt the need to avenge his father's death by killing Hamlet. Unlike Laertes, Hamlet, took action right away and challenged Hamlet to a duel. The duel left both he and Hamlet fatally wounded. Laertes decided to make peace with the killer of his father because he forgave him. Hamlet and Laertes were both presented with parallel problems although they each had their own way of dealing with them. Hamlet took the path of thinking and analyzing of the situation then reacting. Laertes looked at the situation very quickly and just acted upon his feelings and his impulses, and in the end he regretted it and this he told to Hamlet. While each headed in different directions they both faced the same end with feelings of forgiveness on the part of Laertes and feelings of hatred toward Claudius by Hamlet. Hamlet thought about the killing of king Cladius and tried to plan it so that he would be sent straight to hell. Laertes decided that he would kill him anywhere no matter whether they go to heaven or hell. He thought that as long as they were dead he would have his revenge. Both characters had two different ideas of executing their revenge. The characters succeeded in their tasks, but the cost was their lives. Hamlet and Laertes gave their lives to av
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Approximate Word count = 1272
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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