Examples Of Foils In Hamlet

There are many foils used for the antagonist Hamlet in the play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare. We get a list of characters that amplify all Hamlet’s distinct qualities by the contrast of their own. Laertes bears one of the strongest contrast with Hamlet. Laertes and Ophelia being the children of Polonius- the chief counselor for the late Hamlet Sr, grew up in the castle with Hamlet. They all developed a close relationships with one another and a sense of loyalty. However, a mutiny within the kingdom lead to the death of King Hamlet Sr, and his son takes on the duty of bringing the murderer to justice. By a senseless and uncontrolled act of anger. Hamlet slays Polonius. His friend Laertes returns from college as his foe in order to avenge his own father.
“To hell, allegiance!”(pg 109), Laertes announces his proclamation of revenge against his father’s murderer.
He almost refuses to listen to reason upon his return to the castle. He storms the castle reaping for blood automatically assuming Claudius is to blame. He’s not much of a thinker because he almost kills the wrong person. Meanwhile, Hamlet postpones his actions throughout the play to try to keep from doing just that. Later on Laertes even says he wants to “cut his throat i’th’ church”(Pg 118), another rash threat on Laertes part. Hamlet had refused to kill Claudius when he had the best chance to because Claudius was praying so he didn’t think it was right. Laertes also ends up getting manipulated by King Claudius by the end of the play in order for him to be used for his own personal gain. Hamlet however, is completely in control of himself and often others throughout the
story Though Laertes and Hamlet have distinct differences, they also share a lot of similarities as well. They both act impulsively in the play- Laertes is just a lot more impulsive. Hamlet’s huge act of impulsion is his accidental slaying of Polonius, while one of Laertes’s is storming the castle to kill Claudius without any knowledge of the situation. They both share a love for Ophelia. Laertes is a loving and protective brother by his sisters heartbreak-induced suicide. While Hamlet is the guilt stricken lover that wishes he could have loved her the way that she deserved. Both characters also have an undying need to avenge their fathers, Hamlet was just a lot more calculated with his approach. Lastly both end up dead the same way- at the hands of each other fencing. Laertes gives the reader someone to compare Hamlet to. A way to look at the good and bad and understand more thoroughly. He is a character that’s very relatable as he acts out of impulse due to is strong love and passion. Unfortunately his lack of thought left him vulnerable to being another person used by Claudius. A moral of Laertes’s existence is to think with your head rather than your heart.