Laertes and Ophelia serve as character foils for each other in Hamlet. Laertes is impulsive and hot-headed, while Ophelia is more passive and gentle. Laertes is also much more straightforward than Ophelia; he speaks his mind without hesitation, while she is more timid and reserved. These differences between the two characters highlight how they deal with the events unfolding in Hamlet.
While both Laertes and Ophelia love Hamlet, they deal with his rejection of them in very different ways. Laertes becomes consumed with revenge, while Ophelia descends into madness. Laertes’ impulsive nature leads him to act rashly and without thinking, while Ophelia’s more passive nature causes her to internalize her pain.
The different ways that Laertes and Ophelia deal with Hamlet’s rejection of them ultimately leads to their downfall. Laertes is killed in a duel with Hamlet, while Ophelia drowns herself. Though they both meet tragic ends, the differences in their characters highlights the different ways that they deal with tragedy.
Many writers use foils to illustrate the character’s nature in a more visual manner. Foils are individuals who compliment but contradict the main character. The reader may acquire a better understanding of Hamlet through the foil’s dialogue. In Hamlet, we see Prince Hamlet thwarted by several characters. Laertes, Polonius’ son, is one such foil.
Hamlet and Laertes are two young men who have much in common. Both have recently lost their fathers, Hamlet’s to murder and Laertes’ to poisoning. While grieving for their fathers, both Hamlet and Laertes return home from college. Hamlet is a prince whose father was the king of Denmark until his death. On the other hand, Laertes is simply a gentleman, son of a lord. Even though Hamlet and Laertes share so many similarities, they contrast each other in nearly every way possible.
The biggest difference between Hamlet and Laertes is their reaction to the death of their fathers. Hamlet grieves for his father by becoming melancholy and withdrawing into himself. He also becomes obsessed with avenging his father’s death. Laertes, on the other hand, reacts to the death of his father by taking action. He immediately goes to Claudius and demands revenge. Hamlet is a man of thought while Laertes is a man of action.
Another big difference between Hamlet and Laertes is their relationship with Ophelia. Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, but he cannot have her because she is betrothed to his friend Horatio. Laertes also loves Ophelia, but he is not hindered by any such commitment.
Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is sincere and deep, but it is often overshadowed by his duty to avenge his father’s murder. Laertes’ love for Ophelia is also sincere, but it is not as deep or complex as Hamlet’s. Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is further complicated by the fact that he must feign madness in order to carry out his plan of revenge. Laertes does not have to deal with any such complication.
One final difference between Hamlet and Laertes is their respective relationships with their families. Hamlet is very close to his mother, Gertrude. He is also very loyal to the memory of his father. Laertes, on the other hand, is not as close to either of his parents. He is more closely aligned with Claudius than with either Polonius or Gertrude. Hamlet is a man who is torn between his duty to his family and his love for Ophelia. Laertes is a man who is more easily able to balance his duty to his family with his love for Ophelia.
Laertes’ character is very similar to Hamlet’s, as they both want revenge and are angry. Both Hamlet and Laertes mourn Ophelias death. A foil can reflect a character while also contrasting it. Laertes wants fast, almost mindless vengeance, whereas Hamlet is more cautious and wants additional proof. Claudius has a different connection with both Hamlet and Laertes; one is deceived by him while the other sees right through his ruse.
Hamlet has more fantastic dreams, and Laertes is more down to earth. Hamlet loves Ophelia more deeply then Laertes does.
While Hamlet and Laertes are quite similar, in that, they are both young men who have lost their fathers recently, there are also several ways in which they differ. Hamlet is contemplative and prone to overthinking, while Laertes is impulsive and quick to action. Hamlet is melancholy andLaertes is cheerful.
Hamlets love for Ophelia seems much deeper and more genuine than Laertess does. While both men eventually seek revenge for their father’s deaths, Hamlet takes a circuitous route, feigning madness and plotting the murder of Claudius, while Laertes goes straight for the throat, attempting to poison Hamlet.
When the king passes away, Laertes returns to Denmark and is once again confronted by Hamlet. The tie they share with Claudius is a good illustration of the contrasting personalities of Hamlet and Laertes. Claudius is responsible in one way or another for every death in this play, including that of King Hamlet and Polonius’ accidental murder. Hamlet learns from the Ghost that Claudius murdered King Hamlet.
Hamlet takes his time seeking revenge while Laertes rushes to avenge his father. Hamlet is able to see beyond revenge and Claudius’s guilt, while Laertes can think of nothing but taking Claudius’ life.
Hamlet is also able to forgive those who have wronged him, such as his mother and Ophelia. Laertes, on the other hand, is consumed by his need for revenge and is unable to see beyond it.
When Hamlet finds out that Claudius killed his father, he does not kill him immediately. Hamlet believes that killing Claudius while he is praying would send him straight to heaven. Hamlet wants Claudius to experience the pain and suffering that he has caused others. Hamlet also suspects that his own death might be avenged if he kills Claudius while he is sinning. Laertes, on the other hand, does not hesitate to kill Hamlet when he has the chance. Laertes is not interested in Hamlet’s soul, only in Hamlet’s death.
The final difference between Hamlet and Laertes is that Hamlet dies as a result of his own actions, while Laertes dies because of the actions of others. Hamlet chooses to drink from the poisoned cup, while Laertes is unaware that the blade he is using has been poisoned. Hamlet’s death is a result of his own choices, while Laertes’ death is a result of the choices made by others.
In conclusion, Laertes and Hamlet make for interesting character foils. Their similarities give us a greater understanding of Hamlet’s character, while their differences provide contrast and add complications to the plot.
