Relating to the Plot - Tessa

Revenge

Revenge plays a significant role when it comes to the plot development throughout the play. The plot itself partly focuses on the revenge of a few characters. There is 3 main revenge plots intertwined in this play. For example, Hamlet's quest for revenge is the main plot, but Laertes also seeks revenge for the murder of his father, Polonius, by Hamlet and Fortinbras brings his armies into Denmark to avenge the death of his father at the hands of the now dead king. As a result, Hamlet, seeks revenge on Claudius for the brutal murder of his father. This led to the death of many, including Polonius. This drive for revenge is what led Hamlet to act as though he is ‘mad’, possibly even turning mad during the process. Without revenge, the play wouldn't have as much as a bloody and a dramatic end, considering that the deaths in the end are to a certain extent, caused by this strong desire for revenge. Due to this disastrous revenge, Hamlet kills Claudius knowing that he is avenging Hamlet Sr. During the battle between Laertes and Hamlet, Gertrude is accidentally killed along the process. An innocent life was destroyed because of the need for vengeance. The want for revenge from both characters, Hamlet and Laertes, ultimately led to their downfall, they both ended up dying in order to avenge their loved ones, for Hamlet it was Hamlet Sr., and for Laertes it was his father and sister. Thus, the battle itself shows the result of revenge, and tied in with the plot. Therefore, without the revenge, there would not be much to this play, it would not be the same and it would not be as effective.

Laertes

Laertes plays an important role in the plot development. He is a foil to Hamlet, and his drive for revenge is emphasized towards the end of the play Hamlet. Although he is away for part of the play, the deaths of his father and sister led him to want to kill Hamlet in order to satisfy his desire for revenge. Furthermore, this drive is what led to the fencing match in the last scene, causing a bloody ending, and ultimately leading to his death. Moreover, it is through Laertes’ ability to act rashly and his determination to fight for his honour that convinced him to fight Hamlet. Thus, the theme of revenge is more dominant with Laertes’ input, and with this character, the plot becomes more of a bloody tale, and a great tragedy with a base of revenge.

Fortinbras

Fortinbras isn’t a major character in the play, however, when it comes to the plot, we see Fortinbras as a foil to Hamlet. This foil between the two allows us to recognize Fortinbras’ ability to act rashly, while Hamlet thinks more than acting. In addition, he’s also a revenge-seeking character that is a strong-willed leader and is “hot and full” (Shakespeare I.i.96). Although he appears only in a few scenes, he is referred to numerous times throughout the play. He mainly emphasizes Hamlet’s tendency to think far too much, and his want for revenge also contributes to the plot of the play.