Laertes as a foil in Shakespeare s Hamlet
Every character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet plays a critical role in the developing plot of the play; some of which play a position in driving Hamlet’s anger and obsession with revenge. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses the character of Laertes not only as a major catalyst in the story, but as a sharp foil to the pensive Hamlet. Shakespeare uses the similarities and differences between the foils to accentuate the alternate routes Prince Hamlet could have taken in his quest for revenge. ... Laertes acts on anger without thinking, but Hamlet is calculating, debating the consequence of committing murder. When Hamlet learns from the Ghost that his father has not perished of natural causes, but rather due to an “arrant knave,” he vows revenge to “sweep to [his] revenge” (1. ... However, there are some defining characteristics in Hamlets personality that affect his ability to act upon his vows for revenge; Hamlet’s often overt sensibility acts an obstacle in his pledge of revenge.