hamlet
In the play of Hamlet, the omnipresent theme of revenge is very palpable as the reader examines the characters of Hamlet himself, as well as Laertes, son of Polonius, and Fortinbras, prince of Norway and son of the late King Fortinbras. Each of these young characters felt the need to avenge the deaths of their fathers who they felt were untimely killed at the bloody hands of their murderers. However, the plan of action that each character takes illustrates the personality and convictions of the character. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, or at least respect for their fathers, enough to make an attempt to seek revenge upon their father's murderers at the risk of their own reputation, freedom, and souls. Each character's father had a substantially high social class in their respective countries, which in turn gives them high social class as well. With Hamlet and Fortinbras as sons of kings and Laertes as the son of a noble of high regard in the Danish court, all had a lot to lose if unsuccessful in their ploy. Each of the sons believed that the killers had dishonored their fathers as well as themselves. Individually they act in a way that they consider to be an attempt at restoring
Fortinbras passive approach does make him a tragic hero such as Hamlet or Laertes, whom both go to the grave in an effort to avenge their father's deaths. It is Fortinbras' lack of a tragic flaw that makes his plan of action successful. Unlike Laertes, Hamlet has deep consideration for his soul being damned on account of his actions to avenge his father. Laertes is more quick-minded; he makes hasty judgments about Hamlet and is quick to force his opinion upon his sister, Ophelia, about his fears for her if she stays in the relationship. Ophelia answers by telling Laertes that he should follow his own advice and withhold from being "like a puffed and reckless libertine" (I. He is enraged that his father was not buried with his sword and that there was no memorial or tablet displaying his family's coat of arms. Judging from the differences of the three men, it is obvious that they will each take different paths in dealing with the deaths of their fathers. He obeys, showing that he can be dealt with sensibly and that he does not look so much to murder as the way to avenge his father as Hamlet and Laertes do. Although similar in age, class and ambition to avenge their father's killers, Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras each have characteristics that make them different from one another and show how each took action to achieve their goals of vengeance. In turn, Fortinbras displays valiance by showing no hostility toward young Hamlet, as Fortinbras demands Hamlet's honorable burial. For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute-No more. It is not until his father's ghost appears to him that he is aware of a killer.
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