Differences and Similarities in Hamlet :: Essays Papers

Differences and Similarities in Hamlet (1) Shakespe ars play Hamlet Titles uses character flaws and strong emotions to highlight strengths and weaknesses in his characters. He likewise uses differences and similarities between characters to force action along the path he intends the story to travel. This technique is called using amazes. The likes or dislikes of one character for other can completely alter the direction of the story. For example, love of a son for his take can be twisted and perverted, with the proper use of characters, into an outlet for hate and revenge. This is a very nice idea for a thesis, provided instead of using Gertrude and Ophelia as foils (See below.), it would have been much better to use Fortinbras, who, like Hamlet, is also a son of a king who has been killed. Gertrude and Ophelia simply do not fit the category of son. (2) An example of foils is Hamlet and Laertes. Which is the foil? They both love their fathers, but their love has been distorted and all they feel now is a need for revenge for their fathers deaths. The need they have for revenge is fueled by their love for the fathers No they lost. However, they pay for this with their lives. They both are honorable men, they both see the errors they made and forgive each other at the end of the play. Hamlet and Laertes are similar in some ways and different in other ways. (3) Laertes blames Hamlet for the death of his father. Poor topic sentence This becomes even worse when Claudius doesnt openly avenge Hamlet because of his popularity. Hamlet knows that Laertes is a good soldier and is loyal to Claudius. These men differ in the way they seek revenge. Laertes, upon arrival and hearing of his fathers death immediately goes to Claudius and seeks justice for his father. On the other hand, Hamlet doesnt show any need for speed at all. He begins to devise an manifold plan of faked mental instability and other ploys to get his way. However, Laertes would not hes itate to take his revenge quickly. This is, perhaps, Laertes most important role as a foil for Hamlet. It should be emphasized more, by showing how Laertes haste brings Hamlets procrastination into the sunlight.