Hamlet is a Shakespearian tragedy that takes place in the kingdom of Denmark. The plot consists of murder, betrayal, revenge, suicide and insanity. Hamlet the prince of Denmark, main character of Hamlet, has many character traits which are contrasted by other figures in the play.
Hamlet’s personality is especially contrasted by three other main male figures of the play being
Horatio, Claudius, and Laertes. Horatio is Hamlet’s best friend in the play whom is let into the mind and secrets of
Hamlet. Horatio’s other part in the play is the reader’s indication that since he and Hamlet both saw the ghost, Hamlet’s sanity isn’t in complete doubt. Horatio is a man of virtue, known as being very strong, rational, and having
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Laertes is a man of action. Upon hearing his father’s death, Laertes immediately traveled to Denmark for answers and once he got them he instantly plotted his revenge. Unlike Laertes,
Hamlet didn’t go straight to the problem for answers. Instead he had waited, than casually constructed a play to see how the king (Claudius) would react. After finally coming to the conclusion the King had murdered his father, he planned for revenge, but acting it out came very slowly. Countless times in the play he had cursed himself for being so hesitant and slow even though he had good reason and motivation. Both of them do share numerous qualities such as devotion, impulsiveness, and anger.
Both Hamlet and Laertes show devotion towards their fathers, King Hamlet and Polonius, as well as having deep love (in different forms) for Ophelia. As for impulsiveness, Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius because he believes it was the king (Claudius) spying on him and
Gertrude, "Nay, I know not: is it the King?" (III, iv, l 28) and thrusts out in anger at Polonius behind the curtain rendering him dead. Laertes also shows impulsiveness when he goes to
Claudius followed by a mob and blames him for his father’s death and is ready to take the throne. All in all, Hamlet and Laertes are very similar, but the contrasting foil between them would be ones lack of ability to act and the others ability to mobilize immediately. This contrast makes Hamlet’s “laziness”
It is without doubt that William Shakespeare has created many unique, thought - provoking characters. Hamlet is by far Shakespeare's most compelling character. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, various character traits, exhibited by Hamlet, can be seen through his foils. Similarities with Hamlet and Horatio's education, as well as their levels, can be drawn. However, Hamlet's character is in constant change and even philosophical. Fortinbras, without question encompasses many of Hamlet's qualities. They are both born with nobility, along with a similar lineage. However, Fortinbras is more aggressive and even sneaky. Laertes, Hamlet's late antagonist, is both impulsive and righteous. However, they differ in terms of their nobility, as well as
Through the different minor characters, the true feelings and personalities of the main character in a novel or a play come out. Hamlet's weaknesses, strengths, thoughts, and desires came out because of his relationships with others. Without Horatio, Fortinbras, or Laertes, the small aspects of Hamlet's
Hamlet (prince of Denmark) can be greatly compared to Laertes (son of a noble), and Fortinbras (prince of Norway) in the play. They all are very similar but yet different at the same time. They all had love and respect for their fathers and felt the need to avenge their deaths, which all were brutally killed. All three believed that the murderers had dishonoured their fathers as well as themselves. They all reacted and took different approaches in attempt to restore honour in their families.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a work of immense depth in character development, most notably the personal, moral and psychological battles
We get more insight into Hamlet's mind after he meets the ghost of his father. He is speaking to his confidant and friend Horatio:
Although Hamlet is the protagonist in the play, contrasting
Characterization is a critical component of William Shakespeare’s writing and is intricately developed in his play Hamlet. As the protagonist, Hamlet deals with the tragedy of his father’s death, and vows to get revenge when the ghost of his late father informs him the murderer was his Uncle, King Claudius, currently married to his mother, Queen Gertrude. Although Hamlet appears to be set on his deadly vengeance, his indecisiveness and major flaw of procrastination becomes evident when compared to his foils in the play, Prince Fortinbras and Laertes. The literary significance of a foil is to highlight a key component of the protagonist’s character through comparison. Prince Fortinbras and Laertes take action to avenge the death of their fathers,
After the calamity of the play, Claudius takes his moment of solitude to evaluate his situation; as he contemplates his fate he proclaims “...since I am still possessed, Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain th’ offense? oft ‘tis seen the wicked prize itself, Buys out the law. But ‘tis not so above.
Your mother had been swept away. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterous beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts - won to his shameful lust the will of that most seeming virtuous queen. Claudius you foul and manipulative imposter, you abused the trust of those closest to you, for nothing but personal gain and to satisfy your longing appetites. You and your intrigues have killed them all. You robbed Denmark of its rightful King and then ensured the downfall of its most faithful prince.
In the story, Horatio is used as a confidant to allow the reader to explore into the actual thoughts of the main character, to reveal the plans the Hamlet has and is willing to admit to Horatio, and to view the madness that occurs in Hamlet and the other main characters from an outside point of view. Throughout the
When acquaintances come to mind, one often can attribute a single adjective or characteristic that seems to “define” that person. However, the more time one spends with someone, the more one realizes their complexities beyond the original “humorous” or “vain” adjectives that one originally assigned them. Indeed, when asked to pick one specific trait for a close friend or family member, the task becomes more difficult because one understands the many layers of their personality. Shakespeare, widely considered the most accomplished playwright in history, explores this idea in Hamlet, often deemed his finest work. Throughout the play, as readers spend more time with Hamlet, witnessing his trials and tribulations
I, Horatio enter into the castle hall where I meet Hamlet who is happy to see me. Hamlet asks me to watch Claudius’s behaviour during the show to see if there is any sign of guilt being presented within himself. Being the good friend that I am and knowing what Hamlet has told me about King Claudius. I agree to watch him carefully throughout the show. If anything suspicious occurs, Hamlet and I agreed to discuss and analyze about it afterwards. As the audience starts to enter, Hamlet tells me that he will begin to act strange. The players begin to act out the play, and presents that the man who kills the king is the king’s nephew. Claudius then stands up and says to put the lights on and stop the show. When everyone leaves, Hamlet and I are
Hamlet's character represents people in all circumstances. He questions everything, and has experienced love, hate, betrayal, depression, grief, and anger. He is sometimes
Horatio's trustworthiness and sense of honesty are often acknowledged by Hamlet himself. His monologue reveals how much he values Horatio's character traits as stated; "…blest are those/ Whose blood and judgment are so well commeddled/ That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger…" (3.2.73-75). Hamlet’s trust in Horatio builds not only his self-esteem through the wits and manly traits Hamlet seeks to be, but to become the man Horatio is. In the essence of trust and honestly, Hamlet’s right hand man and the King’s Chief of Security profoundly acquired equal characteristics both leaders strive for. Horatio’s dependability to watch over Ophelia, “Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.”(4.5.75), as asked by the King personally, adds
Hamlet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare in the 1600s. In the play there is a tragic hero named Hamlet, he is the star of the play. The play starts out in front of the king’s castle after the king, Hamlet’s father, has passed away. After the king passes away, his brother decides to marry queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mom, two months after the king passed away. Hamlet is very distressed about the whole situation considering how fast she remarried. In the play the events and characters in act one introduce and begin to develop the theme that, betrayal is often followed by revenge, to drive the rest of the play.