Character in Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Character in settlement - Essay ExampleFor instance, Hamlets relationship with Ophelia and her untimely death Claudiuss plot to lodge Hamlet killed through the two minor characters Rosencratz and Guildenstern Poloniuss accidental death and so on. Among these minor characters Poloniuss son, Laertes, performs a vital role in the play. everyplace time, Hamlets character has come to be symbolic of indecision and postp one(a)ment of action. In contrast to this is Laertes who is, in several ways, the exact opposite of Hamlet. This study will explore what function Laertes serves in Hamlet and how this affects the readers perception of him. In the play, Laertes embodies quick decision-making and action and has been deliberately created to serve as a foil to Prince Hamlet, but is ultimately the more sympathetic character. Laertes is introduced in Act I, Scene II where Claudius with almost fatherly affection asks him of his news. Laertes reveals that he is about to take to France. The fig ure of Laertes then, is introduced at the beginning of the play but only to ca-ca him depart soon. His introduction, therefore, must be of nearly importance as it could easily have been postponed in the play. It is also significant that he is introduced before Hamlet himself. It is only after speaking to Laertes that Claudius turns to Hamlet But now, my cousin, Hamlet, and my son-. This turning from Laertes to Hamlet establishes right at the beginning, some degree of opposition between the two. It is as if Shakespeare, right from the start, deliberately and subtly positions Laertes in contrast to Hamlet. It is also significant to our argument that Laertes too is opposed, to some extent, to Hamlet from the beginning. He advises Ophelia to not take Hamlets profession of love for her too seriously For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a modal value and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppl iance of a minute No more (I.iii.6-10). He also cautions her in no uncertain terms Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister that Hamlets affections may change. Laertes believes that his will is not his own. Laertes, therefore, is the initiatory character in the play to recognize Hamlets indecisive nature and notably, is the first to criticize or oppose Hamlet in any(prenominal) way. Structurally then, Laertes is cleverly presented in clear contrast to the main protagonist of the play. But Laertes is also quite different from Hamlet in behavior and action. Hamlet is crippled by the death of his father and is unable to act. His paralysis is so frustrating for him that he turns near suicidal, wishing that his too too solid bod would melt. Whereas, the death of his father only spurs Laertes into further action. He vows that he shall be revengd and immediately sets upon taking his revenge upon first, Claudius, and then, Hamlet. He is also successful in killing Hamlet, although not without getting himself killed in the process. It is significant to our argument that Hamlet and Laertes kill each other with the same poisoned sword. It is symbolic of their dependent opposition that one cannot die without killing the other in the process. We see then, that in terms of plot action Laertes is clearly established as Hamlets arctic opposite right from the beginnin