Who Is Laertes A Foil In Hamlet

Laertes serves as an important foil character of Hamlet’s throughout the entire play. The things that happen to Laertes resemble the events that happened to Hamlet, however, they mostly vary in the way that they handle things. Laertes and Hamlet both have fathers who have been murdered. Both of their fathers were important people; Hamlet’s father, was the king; and Laertes’s father, was Lord Chamberlain of the royal court. They both seek revenge for their fathers’ deaths. Laertes and Hamlet’s consciences change throughout the play. Along with their shared hate for one another they also share a common love for Ophelia. Laertes’ actions after the death of Polonius is more justified than the actions of Hamlet. In the beginning of the play Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, is murdered. Hamlet is told by his father’s ghost that Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, is the one who murdered him. After getting this news, he immediately wants to avenge his father’s death and get back at Claudius.
“Haste me to know’t, that I with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge.” (1.5, 33-35).
Hamlet procrastinates with seeking revenge and does not take action to bring Claudius to justice right away. Before doing anything too serious, Hamlet makes everyone think he is gone mad and puts together a play about a man who kills
his brother and takes the throne. His uncle is not accused by any of his weak actions. Hamlet is very cautious with his decisions contemplating throughout the entire play whether or not to kill Claudius.
“And so he goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. That would be scanned; A villain kills my father and for that, I , his sole son, do this same villain to heaven.”(3.3, 78-82). Polonius, the father of Laertes and Ophelia, death was an accident on Hamlet’s behalf. He is stabbed by Hamlet when Hamlet mistook his voice for Claudius’, during his last attempt of spying on Hamlet. When Laertes gets the news of his father’s death he demands Claudius to tell him how it happened and who had done it. His want to avenge his father’s death resembles the first priority of Hamlet’s. “Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.” (4.5.145-146). Their actions and how they handle their situations are completely different. After finding out about the death of his father, Laertes reacts instantly without thinking about the consequences. He immediately assumes the murderer is Claudius. Later, however, Laertes and Claudius discuss the death of Polonius. After getting news that Hamlet is returning to Denmark, Laertes is pleased, since it meant his revenge wouldn’t be delayed. Claudius, the devious king, agreeing that Laertes deserves to be revenged upon Hamlet, begins to think of a way for Laertes to ensure his revenge without any evidence of wicked play. Knowing that Hamlet had been jealous of Laertes’ skill with a sword they thought Hamlet would be tempted to a dual meet with Laertes. This would give him the opportunity to kill Hamlet, and proposed to poison his sword to ensure the death of Hamlet. However if that did not work, Claudius, at the end would offer Hamlet a poisoned glass of wine.
During the duel between Hamlet and Laertes orchestrated by Claudius, they each have a change of heart. Laertes realized that Claudius has exploited him to get rid of Hamlet the Prince. He tells Hamlet that Claudius is to blame and asks for his forgiveness before his death.
“Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me!” (5.2.337-339)
Hamlet regards his decision to act in his father’s honor and declares to seek action against Claudius with Laertes.
Although Laertes and Hamlet hate each other they share a deep love and concern for Ophelia. Laertes advices his sister to be wary of Hamlet’s love while voicing his concern of Hamlet’s true intentions towards her. He assures her that Hamlet will most likely have an arranged marriage. In the play Hamlet creates, there is cruelty to Ophelia; he may be extending protective gestures toward her by forcing her to reject him so that she will not be involved when Hamlet eventually seeks revenge on King Claudius. When Ophelia does reject Hamlet’s affection, his love for her decreases a little but does not vanish completely. Distraught at the death of Ophelia, Hamlet and Laertes jump into her grave declaring their love for her but also vowing their revenge. Hamlet states:
“I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
Could not, with all their quantity of love,
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?” (5.1.270-272)
They both share closeness in matters of the heart.
Hamlet and Laertes are both good people and went through a lot.
Both their fathers were of the higher class and their deaths each rooted from political conflicts. Laertes act of a foil character to Hamlet emphasizes his cowardly actions. His actions after the death of his father are more justified than Hamlets. He took action right away in order to seek revenge. Unlike Hamlet who waited too long to get the revenge his father had wanted him to get. Hamlet mostly waited for karma to take its place and do what was right. He cowardly thought about suicide a few times during the play. “to be or not to be, that is the question”
(3.1,63).