At young ages both Hamlet and Laertes are faced with the deaths of their fathers. While both are devastated by their loss, the two young men handle their grief and ways of revenge differently. Laertes responds immediately to the murder of his father. He is extremely angry and makes sure the public is aware of his rage. Laertes is quick to jump to conclusions and accuse. He automatically assumes King Claudius to be guilty of the deed. "How came he dead?"(IV, V: 148) he questions Claudius suspiciously. Laertes attempts to frighten Claudius while throwing in a bit of a threat: "To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!/ Conscience of grace, to the profounde

Both Laertes and Hamlet seem to hold a power over women. Laertes is able to persuade Ophelia of Hamlet's danger through his brotherly advice. Hamlet is also able to persuade Gertrude to believe his sanity in order to gain Gertrude on his side. Gertrude then is able to convince King Claudius of Hamlet's crazed mind. Through this plan Hamlet forces Queen Gertrude to feel guilt from her late husband's death. Through their intelligent minds, both Laertes and Hamlet are able to convince many people of many things. The two men do not convince people of the same things, but yet since they both have the power to be so persuasive again the foiling between them is apparent.

Throughout the play, Shakespeare introduces Hamlet and Laertes to many similar situations where they prove to the audience to be more alike than they first appear. Though their intentions many be distinct, their approaches and thought processes can be easily compared. Both men become quickly enraged which causes them to act irrationally. This extreme rage is the cause of the death of Polonius. The irrational rage is also the reasoning for Laertes seeking vengeance against Claudius. Their many differences seem to lead these two characters to similar endings, therefore proving that Laertes and Hamlet are foils of one another.

st 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 throughly for my father" (IV, V: 149-154). In contrast to Laertes quick judgement and reactions with grief, Hamlet is affected very differently. Hamlet

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Approximate Word count = 1080
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)