Hamlet And Laertes Comparison

Shakespeare’s Hamlet focuses on revenge all throughout the play and compares two of the main characters, Hamlet himself and Laertes. This paper will be about how Hamlet and Laertes seek revenge on their fathers’ murderers. Even though they have this goal in common, they approach it differently. Whether their actions are right or wrong is disputable. In the play, Hamlet’s father was killed by Claudius, Hamlet Senior’s brother. Hamlet seeks to get revenge on Claudius to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet is hesitant when it comes to getting revenge. He is very patient and thinks things through. There were many opportunities for him to kill Claudius but he always seemed to talk himself out of it. Hamlet was afraid to go to hell if he made a mistake and Claudius didn't really kill his father. To prove Claudius guilty of murder, Hamlet re-enacts his father’s death on stage to see Claudius’ reaction. If Claudius does react, Hamlet will have proof of the King’s guilt. As the players act out the poisoning of Gonzago, the king in the play, Claudius stood up. This would be a signal for the play to stop and all those present to rise also. Hamlet, very happy now that he has proved Claudius guilty, shouts: “What, frightened with false fire?”(Act 3, Scene 2) Now that Claudius was proven guilty for his brother’s murder, he prayed in confession.(Act 3, Scene 3) Hamlet also has the chance to kill him while they were alone together. Hamlet actually draws his sword and says to himself, “ Now might i do it pat, now he is praying;/ And now I’ll do’t”(Act 3, Scene 3) But of course, Hamlet has second thoughts. He tells himself that it is not the right moment because Claudius could be in a state of grace and Hamlet wants to wait until Claudius sins so he goes to purgatory to pay for his sins like Hamlet’s father had to.Hamlet always has trouble making up his mind to take action, although he can act quickly during critical moments when he doesn’t when he doesn’t think, as when he kills Polonius. Hamlet killed Polonius out of anger, believing he was Claudius. Hamlet asks his mother afterwards in Act 3, Scene 4: “Nay, I know not. Is it the king?” While Laertes was in …show more content…
Laertes immediately assumes Claudius is his father’s killer and Laertes wastes no time leaving France to avenge his father’s death. Once he leaves France, Laertes gathers a crowd of people and they charge into the palace and confront the King. Laertes was also willing to go to hell for revenge. He tells Claudius: “To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest Pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand that both the worlds I give to negligence. Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.”(Act 4, Scene 5) He makes it very clear that even hell is worth the revenge for his father and that he doesn't care either way. Laertes didn't kill Claudius though, Claudius told him that Hamlet was the killer and together they planned his murder. Claudius and Laertes planned to kill Hamlet with poison, either poisoned wine or poison on the tip of Laertes sword. They planned a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet and that was when they would kill