FREE ESSAY ON WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S HAMLET

The Importance of Laertes and Fortinbras in Hamlet 
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a story of revenge and the way the characters in the play
respond to grief and the demands of loyalty. The importance of Fortinbras and Laertes in
the play is an issue much discussed, analyzed and critiqued. Fortinbras and Laertes are
parallel characters to Hamlet, and they provide pivotal points on which to compare and
contrast the actions and emotions of Hamlet throughout the play. They are also important
in Hamlet as they are imperative to the plot of the play and the final resolution.
Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are three young men who are placed in similar
circumstances, that is, to avenge their father's deaths. The way that each comes to terms
with his grief and how he rise to the call of vengeance is one of main contrasts between
the three.
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Shakespeare has made them similar in many aspects to
provide a greater base for comparison when avenging their respective father's deaths.
Both Hamlet and Laertes love Ophelia. Hamlet wishes Ophelia to be his wife, Laertes loves
Ophelia as a sister. Hamlet is a scholar at Wittenberg, and Laertes at France. Both men
are admired for their swordsmenship. Both men loved and respected their fathers, and
display deviousness when plotting to avenge their father's deaths. 
Hamlet's response to grief is a trait starkly contrasted by Laertes. Laertes response to
the death of his father is immediate anger. He is publicly angry, and he leads the public
riot occurring outside Castle Elsinore, which Polonius' death and quick burial served as
a catalyst. He is suspicious, as is evident in his speech to Claudius. How came he dead?
I'll not be juggled with. / To hell, allegiance! (4.5.130). On the other hand, Hamlet is
very private and solemn with his grief. His mourning for King Hamlet is long and drawn
out, two months after his father's death, he is still observed to be wearing ...suits of
solemn black(1.2.78). Claudius and Gertrude comment on his unhappiness, however it is not
until Hamlet's first soliloquy that the audience is made aware of the depth of his
suffering. Although dismayed at his mother's quick remarriage to his uncle, Hamlet
suspects foul play in his father's murder but has no prove until the ghost discloses this
information to him.
When brought to the call of avenging his father's death, Laertes is fast to act, he wants
revenge and he wants it immediately. His actions are rash, being based in anger, and
Claudius easily draws him into Denmark's corruption. Claudius manipulates Laertes into
becoming an ally to kill Hamlet. Laertes is confident of his abilities to regain honor
through vengeance: ...my revenge will come(1.2.78). 
Contrasting to Laertes' quick response, Hamlet procrastinates. Although Hamlet wants to
regain honor by avenging his father's death, Hamlet is dubious of his ability to complete
what he promised to the ghost. For two months he procrastinates, and he chides himself
for doing so. Hamlet agonizes over what he is to do, and how he is to avenge the murder
of his father. Whilst Laertes acts on impulse, and on a tryst with Claudius arising from
the emotions of anger and revenge, Hamlet mulls over how he is going to act and defers
action until his own procrastination disgusts him into acting. This does not mean,
however that Hamlet is unable to act on impulse. Indeed in Act 5, when Laertes and Hamlet
jump into Ophelia's grave it shows just how much Hamlet can act impulsively.
Despite the insidious actions of Laertes in proposing the challenge of a duel with
Hamlet, Laertes is without the ability to think rationally (and vindictively) on the same
level as Hamlet. Hamlet not only wants to avenge his father's death; he wants Claudius to
be eternally punished. "Now might I do it [pat], now 'a goes to heaven, And so am I
[reveng'd]. That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole
son, do this same villain send to heaven" (3. 2.73-78). In this scene Hamlet refuses to
kill Claudius while he is praying because he will go to heaven, and by killing him during
the act of prayer, Hamlet is giving him the chance to repent, therefore doing him an
eternal favor.
Laertes wants revenge; he is not concerned with punishment. He does not think rationally,
he just want immediate retaliation. Laertes is concerned with the physical and the
present, That both the worlds I give to negligence" (4.5.134), he declares. Hamlet
however, philosophizes about the afterlife, and whether ...in that sleep of death what
dreams may come(3.1.66).
Hamlet and Laertes represent the two extremities of the act of revenge: perpetual
contemplation over circumstances leading to procrastination; and acting on impulsion and
without reasoning. Revenge was the driving force behind these characters's actions and
this led to their eventual downfall.
Fortinbras is the son of Old Fortinbras, King of Norway, slain during battle by King
Hamlet. Through a seal'd compact(1.1.89), the lands of Old Fortinbras are forfeited to
Denmark. As a mark of honor as was the style, Fortinbras vows to avenge his father's
death and reclaim the territory lost. Fortinbras tends not to be active in the play; he
is most often spoken of. Fortinbras is the converse of character to Hamlet: the scholar
and the soldier, the man of procrastination and the man of reason and action.
When Fortinbras' forces pass through Denmark, Hamlet chances to speak with one of the
soldiers of the Norwegian army. Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbras, ...How stand I
then? (4.4.56), and reproaches himself for procrastinating whilst admiring the
action-orientated intelligence of Fortinbras. Witness this army of such mass and charge,
Led by a delicate and tender prince(4.4.47). It can be seen from the way Fortinbras
quickly gathers his army and his intent to attack Poland that Fortinbras is an energetic,
vigorous leader with clear ambitions. Although Hamlet is referred to as a soldier not
only by Fortinbras but also by Ophelia, this aspect of Hamlet is not seen by the
audience, and it would seem that Hamlet is more eager to return to his studies at
Wittenberg than regain honor for his father. Indeed, it seems his thoughts that are
revealed throughout the play are those of a scholar rather than soldier. 
The last scene of the play demonstrates more then any the true character of Fortinbras.
He arrives at Castle Elsinore, analyzes the scene, then acts upon it. His action to
avenge his father's death was carefully analyzed and his plan executed, unlike Hamlet's
continual pensiveness and illogical steps towards vengeance. Fortinbras' ability to act
upon reason and not emotion is one the most contrasting attribute Fortinbras has with
Hamlet. As aforesaid, Hamlet and Laertes represent extremes of action. Fortinbras is the
midpoint of these two polarities, his ability to reason and then act upon the reason has
resulted in his assumption to the lands he sought to attain, and the throne he ironically
set out to avenge.
As is hinted throughout the play, the state of Denmark has become corrupt. Marcellus'
famous quote There is something rotten in the state of Denmark(1.5.90) is complemented by
various other observations. ...Tis an unweeded garden(1.2.134), and our state to be
disjoint and out of frame(1.2.20). In Elizabethan times it was generally thought that a
monarch had to have rightful claim to the throne, lest the state descend into chaos.
Fortinbras is essential to this overlying story line, as he is fundamental to the
resolution of the corruption. The overlying story line is to make what was bad become
well, and thus a complete resolution is needed. Fortinbras is instrumental in this
resolution: as the only nobleman left to claim the throne rightfully, Hamlet bequeaths
not only the land that Old Fortinbras lost, but also the state of Denmark. Hence
Fortinbras attains what he had vowed to avenge, and the play comes full circle. All that
made the state of Denmark rotten, all those involved with the corruption, are now dead
hence the overlying story plot is fully resolved.
Laertes and Fortinbras are both very essential in understanding the character of Hamlet.
Both give insight into analyzing Hamlet. Laertes and Fortinbras can be seen as two
endpoints of the characterization of Hamlet. Laertes is the extreme irrational while
Fortinbras represents the logical more thoughtful man of action. Hamlet lies in the
middle of this spectrum. Understanding these two characters is essential in understanding
Hamlet.