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 it to the family, as honor was a significant thing to uphold in this day.
             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. Hamlet lets things dwell in his mind before taking any action or making an attempt at trying to get on with things. He shows this after the death of his father when he remains in mourning and a depressed state for three months without trying to get on with his life. Laertes is more quick-minded; he makes hasty judgments about Hamlet and is quick to force his opinion upon his...