Analysis of significance to play - Amanda Large

A foil is a character whose personality and attitude is opposite the personality and attitude of another character. Young Fortinbras and Laertes are both foils for Hamlet. Hamlet’s actions, personality and attitude are very different and very opposing to those of Young Fortinbras and Laertes.

Hamlet	Young Fortinbras and Laertes
he is calm, composed and thoughtful	hot and full
he greatly mourns his father’s death	actively seek out revenge for their fathers deaths
he plans out revenge but never seems to act upon it	act upon revenge at any opportune moment
he acts very methodically	acts quickly and rashly

All three characters, Hamlet, Young Fortinbras and Laertes, plan revenge in the play Hamlet. Hamlet’s foils are more direct with their revenge; they attempt acting out their revenge almost instantly. Hamlet, on the other hand, seems always to be stalling his revenge upon Claudius. Revenge is a major part of the play; it adds a sense of adventure and anticipation. Revenge is the most prominent act in the play; the play can be considered a revenge tragedy.

Young Fortinbras’ significance to the play is to show opposition to Hamlet and the contrast between the two characters helps make each of their personalities stand out even more. Young Fortinbras loses his father due to an agreement between the king of Denmark and the king of Norway, who happen to be the father’s of Young Fortinbras and Hamlet. Young Fortinbras plans an invasion on Denmark to get revenge against the Danes and begins to set his plan in action when he is interfered. T he opposite happens with Hamlet as when Hamlet finds out that Claudius is the one who killed his father, he seeks revenge, but constantly finds an excuse why he shouldn’t. These opposing personalities and attitudes are what make Young Fortinbras and Hamlet foils for each other.

Laertes’ significance to the play is also to show contrast with Hamlet, but as well, is to give Hamlet a way of finally expressing emotion and acting upon his revenge, instead of only thinking it through. Laertes wants revenge for the murder of his father, and therefore acts almost instantly by going to confront Claudius, who he originally believes is at fault, and then when discovering that it was Hamlet, seeks revenge against him. Laertes’ want for revenge is accompanied by Claudius’ want to kill Hamlet, and therefore when Laertes acts upon his revenge, Hamlet also gets the opportunity to act upon his. Although Hamlet does eventually act upon his revenge, it takes him a great deal of time. Since Laertes acts almost instantly and Hamlet stalls, Laertes and Hamlet are foils for each other.