hamlet

            In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are placed in similar circumstances to compare the actions and emotions of Hamlet throughout the play. Each of these characters have their fathers murdered thus sending them into a state of grief and vengeance. These related circumstances allow each to be placed next to each other and compared by the actions they take in avenging their father's deaths. The characters Laertes and Fortinbras compare to Hamlet in three ways: personality, actions, and their differing emotions throughout the play.
             One connection of Laertes and Hamlet is their love for Ophelia. Hamlet and Ophelia both show a common affection towards one another in a state of "puppy love", and Laertes loves Ophelia as a sister. However, the main connection of Hamlet and Laertes lies in the love and respect of their fathers and the state of grief their deaths brings upon them. Hamlet responds to his father's death by suppressing his grief and turning it into anger towards his mother's marriage and Claudius. Even after the ghost of his father tells him Claudius murdered him, he procrastinates his revenge and suppresses his vengeance. He is trivial over whether to trust the ghost and on his own abilities to do as he promised him. For months, Hamlet agonizes over avenging his father's murder and how to do so. Hamlet's rage also makes him want Claudius to suffer and torment as his father is, therefore he misses opportunities such as when he is praying. Laertes however, after hearing of his father death, shows no suppression to his grief and anger and shows it openly. "How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with To hell, allegiance" (Shakespeare). He acts very quickly in avenging Polonius and often seems rash. Unlike Hamlet Laertes is not cruel and spiteful, he does not think of the afterlife thus wanting a quick revenge on his fathers murderer.