Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, or at least respect for their fathers, enough to make an attempt to seek revenge upon their father's murderers at the risk of their own reputation, freedom, and souls. Each character's father had a substantially high social class in their respective countries, which in turn gives them high social class as well. With Hamlet and Fortinbras as sons of kings and Laertes as the son of a noble of high regard in the Danish court, all had a lot to lose if unsuccessful in their ploy. Each of the sons believed that the killers had dishonored their fathers as well as themselves. Individually they act in a way that they consider to be an attempt at restoring

May sweep to my revenge (I.v. 29-31).

Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,

Laertes view of Hamlet is that his judgment is blinded by his youthful recklessness. Ophelia answers by telling Laertes that he should follow his own advice and withhold from being "like a puffed and reckless libertine" (I.iii. 49). Polonius later reinforces this reckless view of Laertes character by wanting to send spies to France to observe his son's habits. In the beginning of the play, we learn young Fortinbras has martial intentions towards Denmark and that Claudius views this as a threat as he makes plans to embark on military preparations of his own to defend his country. "So by his father lost; and this I take it is the main motive of our preparations" (I.i. 104-5). This shows the courage Fortinbras has to take up arms against a country that had recently defeated his own.

he consequences of a victory or loss.

it to the family, as honor was a significant thing to uphold in this day.

Fortinbras acts the most rationally out of the three. After learning that the late King Hamlet was responsible for his father's death, he does not act irrationally out of haste like Laertes or become passive like Hamlet. He takes the time to establish an army and seek revenge upon the country of Denmark as a whole as it was in war against the country that his father was killed. When Claudius informs Fortinbras' uncle, the king of Norway, of Fortinbras' real intentions, the king demands that Fortinbras retreat in his military attempts at Denmark. He obeys, showing that he can be dealt with sensibly and that he does not look so much to murder as the way to avenge his father as Hamlet and Laertes do. "... he in brief obeys receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine makes vow before his uncle never more to give th'assay of arms against y

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1232
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)