Hamlet Essay: to Avenge or Not to Avenge

To Avenge or Not To Avenge Throughout the No Fear Shakespeare version of the Shakespearian play, Hamlet, Fortinbras and Laertes illuminate the character of Hamlet by experiencing similarities that drive them to revenge. Although, they differ in how they go about acting on their vengeful thoughts, the loyalty to their fathers and desire to seek revenge are the driving forces behind the play. After reading the play in its entirety, the reader can very easily draw that Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet are all sons of murdered fathers. The deaths of their fathers give each man a feeling of loyalty. When Hamlet comes face-to-face with his father’s ghost he vows to, “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1. 5. ; 25). From this it can be assumed that a cause and effect relationship is beginning to develop between their sense of loyalty and thirst for revenge. Their loyalty causes them to take measures into their own hands in order to do what they feel will bring the men responsible for the murders of their fathers to justice.
All of the men share a correlation to one another in that they are all driven to revenge, but they also have many differences from that of Hamlet that allow the reader a deeper understanding of Hamlet’s character. For example, Fortinbras is sharp, organized, and able to quickly make decisions when it comes to his plan for revenge. The reader learns through Horatio that Fortinbras and the army he has assembled are going to fight to get back the land that was lost as a result of late Fortinbras’ death. This goes to show that he has a definite plan of attack and has every intention of seeing it through. This brings to light a character flaw within Hamlet; he allows himself to act rashly in some cases, (such as throwing himself in Ophelia’s grave after Laertes) yet hesitant in others. This goes to show that although he may know what he wants, a considerable delay occurs because he is unable to fully commit himself in order to see any plan to completion. Laertes also plays a role in establishing Hamlet’s character. Laertes proves to be very dramatic and fervent as he leaps into his deceased sister’s grave proclaiming, “Now pile on your dust upon the quick and dead, till of this flat a mountain you have made…” (5. 1. ; 235-236). Hamlet follows him in, showing his impulsive and irrational side and how Laertes brings this out in him. Laertes, like Fortinbras, is a very decisive man. However, Laertes pays no attention to right and wrong as Hamlet does. Hamlet remains true to himself throughout a majority of the play, but Laertes is a “bandwagonner”; meaning that he has a tendency to jump on whomever is conveniently positioned to be a target. Being influenced by Claudius, Laertes almost immediately shifts the blame for his father’s death on Hamlet, paying no regard to whether Clausius’ accusation posses any merit. On the other hand, Hamlet cares very much about what is right and what is wrong. His hesitancy in killing Claudius is a prime example of this. Hamlet believes in innate human goodness and this is, ultimately, his downfall. This idealistic view makes it hard for him to accept the evil ensuing around him. However, right and wrong is not what drives Hamlet to finally carry out his promise to his father. Claudius is killed as a result of passion. Hamlet cannot go on living without knowing that he has avenged the death of his father. Not only do the three men share a loyalty to their fathers, but they also all eventually face the men who murdered them. Again, the way in which they all go about doing this differs, allowing the reader to make further assumptions about the characterization of each man. Both Fortinbras and Laertes use armies or mobs to back them up in their fight for revenge. However, Hamlet takes a more noble approach. In his letter to Claudius he writes, “High and mighty, you shall know that I am set naked in your kingdom. Tomorrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes, when I shall, first asking your pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and more strange return. Hamlet” (4. 7.; 43-49). From this it is gathered that Hamlet means to confront his uncle Claudius one-on-one about killing his father. In wanting to meet with Claudius “naked and alone” Hamlet proves that he isn’t like Laertes and Fortinbras. Hamlet doesn’t feel the need to make a spectacle out of the situation. He simply wants to avenge his father’s death and be done with it. It can be concluded that through the use of both Fortinbras and Laertes as foils to Hamlet, the reader is able to draw conclusions about Hamlet’s character based on his similarities and differences between him and the other two men. Hamlet is unable to act of his vengeful thoughts due to his indecisiveness and desire to remain true to himself. Laertes and Fortinbras are used to shine a light on Hamlet’s character in order further exaggerate Hamlet’s fatal flaws.