Hamlet Laertes And Fortinbras In Hamlet

In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, vengeance is a driving force for the three characters Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; Laertes, son of Polonius; and Fortinbras, Prince of Norway. Throughout the course of the play, each of these characters’ scheme to avenge the deaths of their fathers. Although Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are all put in similar situations, each go about their plans differently. In the end each man is able to obtain the vengeance they seek, just not in the way that they anticipate. When Hamlet returns back to Elsinore from Wittenberg to honor the death of his father, he encounters the ghost of his dead father, king Hamlet. The ghost declares to Hamlet that he has been murdered by his brother Claudius and that he needs to be avenged by the death of
The play’s the thing/ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” (2. 2. 604-606). While the play is being held, Hamlet pays close attention to his uncle
Laertes does not question anything and swears that he will have his revenge. Together him and the King conduct a plan that will allow Laertes to kill Hamlet in a fencing duel by poisoning the tip of his rapier. As a backup plan, Claudius also arranges to have cup of poisoned wine ready for Hamlet in case Laertes fails to win the duel. Hamlet wins the first round but insists to keep the duel going rather than taking a drink. After Hamlet wins the second round as well, Queen Gertrude mistakenly sips from the poisoned cup in celebration and eventually dies from poisoning. Laertes is finally able to wound Hamlet but afterwards the two get into a scuffle and manage to swap their foils. Before Hamlet passes away, he wounds Laertes with the poisoned blade. Laertes, Like Hamlet, is able to avenge the death of his father, but is unable to live out the true satisfaction of doing