Characteristic of Hamlet and Laertes

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Hi room! Hi I still hope that someone could help me with this question, īcoz I have to work out this question to get a D in English. Iīm from Austria Vienna, and my English isnīt the best. Thanks for your help in advance.

Laertes, Opelias brother, exhibits character traits quite opposite those of Hamlet???

-- Christian Wunderl (a9609082@unet.univie.ac.at), April 24, 2001

Answers

Well, let's look at the dead fathers. When Hamlet finds out that his dad was murdered, he decides to stall and act crazy for a while. When Laertes finds out that his dad is dead (maybe murdered - he's not sure yet), he gathers a mob and rushes the palace to confront Claudius (at swordpoint!).

There are more minor points like when the wedding and coronation ceremonies are over, Leartes goes off to party in France while Hamlet mopes about the castle (rather than return to school), but I think the action/inaction thing is the most important. Also, keep in mind that Laertes bought some poison in France. Why? Had he planned to kill Claudius in secret if he did not have the people's support? Looks like he would have done anything necessary to avenge his father. Hamlet has the need to kill Claudius "properly" (when he's drunk, etc.).

Good luck in English.

-- mikken (mikken@neo.rr.com), April 27, 2001.


Actually this question is one of opinion. You can actually completely disagree with the statement and say that Hamlet and Laertes were actually one mind. This is because they share same fates and just random events that happened. The only difference is that both have a free will and Shakespeare portrays two extremes of this free will. Other than that Laertes and Hamlet are the same.

-- Jana Veliskova (i_want_more_cookies@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

I'm actually writing an english essay at the moment for my english A level coursework. In my question I have to compare and contrast the responses of Hamlet and Laertes to the deaths of their fathers. I reckon that Shakepseare created the similarites, e.g they are both learned men who went to uni and love there fathers to the extent they would kill the king to revenge their fathers deaths. I think there are a few key points to look at. Firstly the fact that Hamlet procrastinates - motive is that he was also cast the role of purifying Denmark through the killing of the king but thinks that the world is bad, so sees no point in killing the king in order to do so and secondly, perhaps most importantly, that Laertes is simply a two dimensional revenge hero whilst Shakespeare created Hamlet to be a complex character through which he can contemplate death and fate. Good luck to anyone who is doing an essay, guess i'd better stop procrastinating and get abck to mine!!v x

-- Vicky Evans (sunshine17_uk@msn.com), April 27, 2002.

Well, let's look at the dead fathers. When Hamlet finds out that his dad was murdered, he decides to stall and act crazy for a while. When Laertes finds out that his dad is dead (maybe murdered - he's not sure yet), he gathers a mob and rushes the palace to confront Claudius (at swordpoint!). There are more minor points like when the wedding and coronation ceremonies are over, Leartes goes off to party in France while Hamlet mopes about the castle (rather than return to school), but I think the action/inaction thing is the most important. Also, keep in mind that Laertes bought some poison in France. Why? Had he planned to kill Claudius in secret if he did not have the people's support? Looks like he would have done anything necessary to avenge his father. Hamlet has the need to kill Claudius "properly" (when he's drunk, etc.).

Good luck in English.

-- mikken (mikken@neo.rr.com), April 27, 2001.

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Actually this question is one of opinion. You can actually completely disagree with the statement and say that Hamlet and Laertes were actually one mind. This is because they share same fates and just random events that happened. The only difference is that both have a free will and Shakespeare portrays two extremes of this free will. Other than that Laertes and Hamlet are the same.

-- Jana Veliskova (i_want_more_cookies@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

I'm actually writing an english essay at the moment for my english A level coursework. In my question I have to compare and contrast the responses of Hamlet and Laertes to the deaths of their fathers. I reckon that Shakepseare created the similarites, e.g they are both learned men who went to uni and love there fathers to the extent they would kill the king to revenge their fathers deaths. I think there are a few key points to look at. Firstly the fact that Hamlet procrastinates - motive is that he was also cast the role of purifying Denmark through the killing of the king but thinks that the world is bad, so sees no point in killing the king in order to do so and secondly, perhaps most importantly, that Laertes is simply a two dimensional revenge hero whilst Shakespeare created Hamlet to be a complex character through which he can contemplate death and fate. Good luck to anyone who is doing an essay, guess i'd better stop procrastinating and get abck to mine!!v x

-- Vicky Evans (sunshine17_uk@msn.com), April 27, 2002.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

They do have very different ways of dealing, because they are two different people. To me they seem like chalk and cheese. Laertes is overly demonstrative, Hamlet is not (that's what makes Hamlet angry in V.i); Laertes blusters about what he will do and then doesn't really do it, but Hamlet debates with himself privately, planning and trying to follow through; Laertes throws away his honour, lying and cheating for revenge, even while prating about his 'terms of honour', but Hamlet never so stoops. And so Laertes is a bit of a hypocrite (as Ophelia's speech also implies in I.iii.45- 51).

Laertes is a bit stupid, Hamlet is not: Laertes' willingness 'To cut [Hamlet's] throat i'th'church' (IV.vii.123-125) contrasts with Hamlet's decision not to kill his uncle while Claudius prays in III.iii.

Churches, as Claudius' reply to Laertes' statement at IV.vii.126 indirectly points out, were traditionally places of sanctuary, or immunity, even for those who had broken the law; so to kill in them was a serious offence by the murderer, at least in God's and the Church's eyes.

And, if Hamlet were in the church he would most likely be communing with God.

Consequently, if Laertes were to kill Hamlet in the church he would probably be doubly risking his own damnation while dispatching Hamlet, 'fit and seasoned for his passage,' direct to Heaven. Duh!

Afraid I don't agree with Laertes as two-dimensional. Apart from all the above, his relationship with his sister is interesting. Laertes may be there as a contrast to Hamlet, but not necessarily an example of what Hamlet should be.

Now I've betrayed my bias haven't I. But of course, anyone with Polonius for a father is going to be battling from the womb onwards.

-- catherine england (catherine_england@hotmail.com), May 03, 2002.

-- brenda (p2230510@ms43.hinet.net), June 13, 2003.


I disagree, I believe there are more points showing Hamlet is comparable to Laertes. But I don't have time to chat becuase im writing this paper. P.S. I HATE ENGLISH (| R L337 H4X0R)

-- Fake Name (FakeEmail@unet.univie.ac.at), October 28, 2003.


just bear this in mind.. Laertes character is created to be as a "foil" to Hamlet. that's mean, Laertes characteristic will obviously be totally different and opposite from Hamlet. thus, he can be a successful foil to highlight Hamlet's character.. after all, Hamlet is the hero of the story right? and in Elizabethan playwright, it is important to highlight the characteristic of the hero rather than other character..

-- emma (emma_yeayea@hotmail.com), November 20, 2003.

I agree with Emma. A foil is not necessarily an opposite, but just someone to highlight certain characteristics of the main character. I'm writing a paper on Laertes as a foil to Hamlet also. Here are some points that I came up with: -Hamlet thinks before he acts- Laertes after (he asks Hamlet to forgive him) -Hamlet is not willing to be damned to get revenge- Laertes is -Hamlet is thought and inaction- Laertes is rashness and action

-- Clair (clairbear24@yahoo.com), February 02, 2004.

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