The Foil Of Shakespeare s The Tragedy Of Hamlet

In literature, the foil is a person whose traits, by differences and similarities, help to emphasize and enhance the qualities and actions of the protagonist. Many characters, such as King Claudius, Fortinbras, and Laertes, in William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark† qualify as foils for Hamlet, the protagonist. However, Laertes is the most appropriate foil for Hamlet. Laertes’ similarities and differences with Hamlet along with his actions and traits allow him to be an effective foil for Hamlet. Readers often see Laertes and Hamlet as complete opposites, but they are not as different as they appear. In the play, both Hamlet and Laertes depend on their fathers for guidance, therefore, the death of their fathers has a devastating impact on their lives. Hamlet and Laertes are intelligent and go to school out of the country. Hamlet goes to school in Wittenberg, Germany, and Laertes goes to school in France. These characters want to kill Claudius. Hamlet wants to kill Claudius after his father’s ghost tells him â€Å"the serpent that did sting thy [Hamlet] father’s life/ Now wears his crown† (I, v, 40- 41). Laertes wants to kill Claudius when â€Å"in a riotous head/ O’erbears your [king’s] officers† (IV, v, 104-105) and storms the castle because he thinks Claudius is responsible for his father’s death. These two characters are also being spied on by someone for a member of their family. Claudius sends Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Polonius to spy on HamletShow MoreRelatedThe Fatal Opposition Of Hamlet And Laertes1035 Words   |  5 PagesFatal Opposition of Hamlet and Laertes Newton s Third Law states that to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (â€Å"Centripetal†). Many people have found this to not only be true in science but also in different situations, everyday life, and even in literature. In literature, when a character is equal but opposite to the protagonist, that character is called the foil. 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