Comparing the revengers Fortinbras, Laertes and Hamlet.

Rebecca Connabeer 12K8

HAMLET ESSAY

For this essay I will be comparing the revengers Fortinbras, Laertes and Hamlet. They each have their own roles as separate characters in the play and each have similarities and differences. All have strong reasons for wanting revenge. Fortinbras’ being a combination of political reasons and vengeance for his fathers’ death, whist Laertes and Hamlet are both avenging their fathers’ deaths. Nevertheless, the way in which each character goes about each of their revenge strategies is completely different. To show this I will be analysing how each react to various events within the play, starting with Hamlet himself.

Revenge tragedies became very popular during 1600 at a time when theatre was of an unstable popularity and required the backing of men of influence to ensure it would continue. The theme of earlier revenge tragedies was the punishment of an evildoer through someone who had suffered because of him. The story source on which Hamlet was based had a dominating revenge theme. One of the basic elements of the revenge situation came to be the ghost: ‘A clear image of a spirit left restless through waiting for vengeance against the person who had inflicted suffering’. Its role being to urge the avenger to action and vengeance then to be sought and carried out in a series of dramatic episodes. Hamlet has clear links with this type of revenge tragedy. Other plays relating to the revenge tragedy such as Kyd’s ‘The Spanish Tragedy’ 91587) and the anonymous ‘Locrine’ (1595) have characters avenging deaths of close relatives. But in both these plays material considerations prevent fulfilment whereas in Hamlet, conscience is what stops the vengeance taking place. Shakespeare chose a theme, which deals wit a duty higher than the others, a son’s revenge for the murder of his father. Shakespeare humanizes the play, gives the audience something to relate to – loyalty between father and son. This is perhaps a component, which contributes to the success of Hamlet.

Hamlet first learns of the real situation behind his fathers’ death when the ghost of his father visits him in Act 1, Scene V. He is told that his father was murdered. This confirms the suspicion Hamlet had before, and spurs him into thoughts of revenge straight away.

‘Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift

As meditation or the thoughts of love,

May sweep to my revenge.’ (Lines 29-31).

This statement from Hamlet quite early on is a complete contrast to what action Hamlet does actually take and the time it takes him to act. He speaks here of wanting to take quick revenge but in fact Hamlet waits and seeks evidence to prove that Claudius was responsible for his father’s death. He spends the next four and a half acts deliberating over how and when he should take revenge, and seeks confirmation for himself of Claudius’ guilt by the use of the ‘Mouse-Trap’.

This takes place in Act 3, Scene 2, when Claudius asks for light during the play at the point where, Gonzago pours poison into the King’s ear.

As Hamlet knows, this is very similar to the situation in which his father died. Claudius realises this as well and rises dramatically. This is confirmation enough for Hamlet and brings him to true recognition of his fathers’ death, yet Hamlet still hesitates to kill him.

Hamlets’ revenge plan is hidden from the rest of the court. It is very much behind closed doors and it is only Horatio to whom Hamlet tells the whole story.

The other two main revengers – Fortinbras and Laertes are a great contrast to Hamlet in this way. Laertes and Fortinbras’ vengeance is discussed throughout the play, and both are very open compared to Hamlet, although Fortinbras does hide his motives from his uncle. Both these characters have similarities in their situation to Hamlet but both go about their revenge in very different ways.

Even after Hamlet is sure beyond any doubts that Claudius is the murderer, he hesitates to kill him. Fortinbras, on the other hand, has been taking action even before the play begins. When the play does begin we learn that Demark is in a state of alert. The audience learn that the country has been preparing for a war, and from Horatio, the audience also learns that the young Fortinbras is getting ready for action against Denmark for the killing of his father and for the return of lands previously owned by Norway. This provides the audience with a lot of the background for the revenge theme and also suggests later events in the plot. From this introduction to Fortinbras we already get the impression that he is a soldier, a man of action, he doesn’t delay his revenge but plots it and takes his opportunities whenever they arrive. His character is a contrast to Hamlet and Hamlet realises this. In Hamlet’s Soliloquy in Act IV Scene IV, Hamlet is thinking about all the time he has wasted in not taking action. He sees how everything around him is taking shape, all except his own actions. The sight of Fortinbras’ determination to go against the Polish army for the honour of gaining such a small and trivial piece of land makes Hamlet annoyed with himself. After all, he is avenging the murder of his father and the disgracing of his mothers’ name, something much more important than a piece of land, yet he has not carried out his revenge, and has in fact, it seems, been putting it off.

‘How stand I, then,

That have a father killed, a mother stained,

Excitements of my reason and my blood,

And let all sleep?’ (Lines 56-59).

Hamlet is questioning himself and most importantly his actions, why has he just let things go? He knows he has had the opportunities, especially in Act III Scene III where he is in the position to kill Claudius. Hamlet finds the King kneeling-praying, and so has him at his mercy; but he does not kill him.

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;

And now I’ll do’t – and ...

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‘How stand I, then,

That have a father killed, a mother stained,

Excitements of my reason and my blood,

And let all sleep?’ (Lines 56-59).

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;

And now I’ll do’t – and so he goes to heaven;

And so am I revenged – that would be scanned.

A villain kills my father, and, for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.’ (Lines 73-78).

At the beginning of his speech Hamlet is very dramatic, he has the confidence to kill Claudius on the spur of the moment. But as soon as there is time for him to think about what he is doing, like in this situation, his resolution fails and he makes excuses for himself. Hamlet feels his revenge will not be fulfilled if, murdering the King while he is praying sends his soul straight to heaven. However, we can see this as just another reason for Hamlet to put off taking his revenge.

It is the event taking place that turns Hamlet’s thoughts. He is ashamed, before his eyes are twenty-thousand men willing to fight and die for a piece of land virtually worthless, when he himself is unable to kill his fathers murderer even when presented with the perfect opportunity. It is this event that turns Hamlet, makes him form decisions and turns his thought into revenge.

‘O, from this time forth

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!’ (Lines 65-66).

At the end of this soliloquy Hamlet decides that all he will think about is his revenge against anyone that has done injustice towards him, it is time to act. Though we as the audience perhaps see this as ironic as Hamlet’s actions often contradict his words, we perhaps still wonder whether he will actually take his revenge. This scene makes Hamlet’s personality clear to the reader. He is shown against another Prince who is the exact opposite of him in the same situation. Hamlet is not an impulsive character, if he had been he would have committed murder straight away, but this would have meant there would have been no play to speak of. Hamlet cannot bring himself to do it, until now. Fortinbras’ pursuit of his goal has given Hamlet the example on how to act if an opportunity presents itself. Hamlet is so determined to do something he doesn’t want to think about the consequences anymore.

This eventual attitude of Hamlet is similar to how Laertes has been throughout the play, he acts almost immediately when finding out that his father has been killed, he is almost irrational, he is passionate with his accusations and threats, and like Hamlet a menace to Claudius at this stage in the play. Unlike Hamlet, much like Fortinbras, Laertes is a man of action; he has no scruples and needs no corroborative evidence to support his courses of action. On his return to Denmark he is quickly standing before the King, accusing him of the death of Polonius. He wants immediate action and is determined to take revenge.

‘How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.

To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!’ (Lines 127-128).

Here Laertes speaks boldly and passionately – he will revenge! He uses curses – ‘To hell, allegiance!’ that would have appeared very evil to Shakespeare’s audiences. Laertes goes on to say that as long as he avenges his father’s death he doesn’t care what happens to him in life – or death. This emphasis the strength in Laertes’ character, he is determined to take revenge straight away and speaks of it in a similar way to Hamlet when Hamlet learnt of how his father was killed in Act I, Scene V.

‘O most pernicious woman!

O villain, villain; smiling, damned villain! (Lines 105-106).

Hamlet does not have the character to be a revenger, he can say he words, make promises to himself and others but when faced with the situation he cannot do it. Laertes has similarities with Fortinbras in the way he conducts his revenge – he too is a man of action, and unlike Hamlet ready to fight anyone who he thinks may have had something to do with his father’s death. His readiness to believe that Hamlet is responsible for all the tragic events in the court during his absence and his willingness to go farther than the King to ensure that Hamlet will be killed in the fencing are witness to this. He is a very powerful character and behaves in a way Hamlet wishes he himself could act. Laertes is extremely angry, he thinks that Polonius should have been given a better burial and this spurs on his desire for revenge.

In Act IV scene V it is announced that Laertes has burst into the court with a band if men threatening the lie of the king, whom he takes to be his father’s killer. Claudius knows that he must have Laertes on his side in order to keep the Danes on his side and to hold his position as king. He is scared Laertes will lead the Danes against him. So, almost immediately he devises a plan to keep Laertes on his side and protect himself from Hamlet at the same time. In other words, he uses Laertes to scheme against Hamlet, to save his own life. When Laertes returns from France Claudius jumps on the opportunity provided by Laertes’ fury at his father’s death. The King skilfully quietens Laertes and leads him to the plot by which Laertes will be the instrument of Hamlet’s death, as the king desires. Claudius spends a lot of time convincing Laertes of his innocence and Hamlet’s guilt, and hegoes on persuading Laertes until his mind is made up for him: he is determined to kill Hamlet. This is exactly what Claudius wanted and Laertes is now so angry at Hamlet he is prepared to do anything. Claudius is very sneaky in how he goes about talking to Laertes.

‘And where th’offence is let the great axe fall.’

(Act IV scene v Line 213).

Here is shown to already be fuelling Laertes’ desire for revenge and he is leading him straight to Hamlet. The King finishes his work of convincing Laertes that Hamlet, not he himself, is guilty of Polonius’s death and Ophelia’s madness. At first Laertes mistrusts him: why is Hamlet still free? The king makes a good case: he will not kill him for fear of alienating his queen’s affection, and, the people of Denmark love their prince. Instead he whips Laertes into a passionate desire for vengeance on Hamlet. In Act IV scene vii when the messenger brings the letters from Hamlet, Claudius is shocked Hamlet is still alive but does not allow it to weaken his control over Laertes. Laertes is desperate at this point having learned of his fathers’ death and seen Ophelia in a terrible state right before his eyes, and he unlike Hamlet, helped by encouragement from Claudius is ready to take revenge.

‘I’m lost in it, my lord. But let him come;

It warms the very sickness in my heart,

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,

Thus diddest thou’.

(Act IV, Scene VII Lines 53-56).

Laertes is very active in his thoughts of revenge, he doesn’t hold back; this is very different to Hamlet’s behaviour.

Although Laertes does let Claudius take control of his revenge, not because he isn’t capable of doing it himself but because Claudius provides such a good case that he should do it and Laertes should just focus on actually killing Hamlet. Throughout this scene Claudius builds up Laertes’ desire for revenge to such a point that Laertes is even prepared to take Hamlet’s life in a church. Claudius needs Hamlet out the way as soon as possible but is very devious and in his speech to Laertes drops no hints that any of the revenge he is planning on Hamlet is for his own purpose.

‘That we would do,

We should do when we would; for this ‘would’ changes’

(Act IV, Scene VII Lines 118-119).

Claudius tells Laertes that they should do at once what they want to do – kill Hamlet – or otherwise they will be influenced not to – like Hamlet. This is ironic because Hamlet’s actions are continually put off by thought. Claudius is deadly, he has everything planned out – the fencing – the poisoning and he has Laertes to do the deed for him who has the motive to leave Claudius free of any blame.

Laertes, like Fortinbras, has revengeful characteristics. It is not hard for him to think about murder and he agrees to Claudius’ plans straightaway he doesn’t delay his actions, unlike Hamlet. This shows the audience the great difference in personalities between the revenge characters. When Laertes learns of Ophelia’s death it adds to his rage and his desire to kill Hamlet. Laertes is distraught at his sister’s death, especially the way in which her funeral service was carried out, this adds to his hatred of Hamlet and leads to their fight in Ophelia’s grave when both characters seem prepared to kill each other.

Fortinbras is not one of the main characters in the play, but he is always somewhere in the background. He is a definite man of action – willing to fight whoever whenever. He is also very clever, in his first appearance in Act IV Scene IV, when he and his army are on an expedition to Poland to fight over a piece of disputed territory. The audience may realise that Fortinbras perhaps has an alterior motive to pass through Denmark on the way to Poland linked to his desire for revenge. He is perhaps passing through to see what’s going on, to see whether an invasion would be a good idea at that particular point in time. Unlike Laertes and Hamlet, Fortinbras’ revenge is laid out to him on a plate; he barely has to lift a finger before he finds himself in the perfect position to take over Denmark. The most we see of Fortinbras is in the last scene after nearly all of the main characters have been killed.

‘This quarry cries on havoc. – O proud death,

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,

That thou so many princes at a shot

So bloodily hast struck?’

(Act V Scene II Lines 346-349).

Here Fortinbras’ is basically saying that the heap of bodies cry out for merciless slaughter in revenge (havoc). To ‘cry havoc’ was to give army the signal to break ranks and plunder what they had conquered.

Fortinbras realises the opportunities now open for him, now that the royalty of Denmark are dead and he seizes these opportunities.

‘I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me’

(Act V Scene II Lines 371-372).

Fortinbras knows he has the rights to the crown of Denmark, as well as to Norway, and now the opportunity invites him to claim his rights. Horatio tells Fortinbras that Hamlet’s dying wish was that Fortinbras would take the throne. Hamlet realised what would be best for Denmark and its future. Fortinbras is a replacement approved by Hamlet himself. This is how Shakespeare ends the play.

The final scene is the climax of the revenge theme in the play. The three characters are each involved and each gets their revenge in one way or another. Laertes kills Hamlet with his poisoned foil. Hamlet kills Claudius – though even at this point in the play Hamlet is avenging his mother’s death not only his father’s and it is perhaps this – a murder committed right before his eyes- which actually forces him to kill Claudius – and when he does it is particularly striking that at this moment Hamlet utters not one word concerning the assassination of his father. Fortinbras arrives at the court to find the King Queen and heir to the throne dead and the position as king of Denmark wide open to him, none of which is through his own doing.

Fortinbras symbolises the outside world breaking into the play – the court – destroying the vicious circle of love, hate and revenge. It is therefore very important. He provides a contrast to the rotten, poisoned state of Denmark.

In Conclusion, revenge is one of the most important themes within hamlet. The differences in the ways Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras conduct their revenge lead to many of the events throughout the play and raise their interest value to the audience. The revengers are wholly responsible for the dramatic climax at the end of the play and the many deaths within it. Even though Claudius helps Laertes, and Hamlet should have taken his revenge much earlier on in the play. The final event of Fortinbras gaining the title King of Denmark is the climax of the revenge theme. The play begins with showing the strict security at Denmark because they fear invasion from Norway, but it ends with the Court of Elsinore and the position of ruler held within it left wide open for Fortinbras to take. This shows the total collapse of Denmark caused by the corruption and the revenge led by the characters throughout the play. Claudius’ efforts to kill hamlet paid off, but he got killed in the process, as well as his wife, therefore losing his position as King. Hamlet got revenge on Claudius but it was perhaps not justified. Laertes got his revenge on Hamlet but in the end made peace with him by asking Hamlet for an exchange of forgiveness, he wants them to die as friends.

Many people have questioned why hamlet delayed his revenge, but there really is nothing surprising about it. It is one of the ways in which Shakespeare links hamlet to everyday life, to show him as human. It is the nature of all human beings to put off a searching task or an impelling duty involving something disagreeable or worse. (A man who has to write a difficult letter will tidy his desk e.g. before he begins). So with Hamlet; the delay is simple and can be matched with a similar inclination in us all. Shakespeare humanized Hamlet; the evidence talked about in this essay suggests that Hamlet is really delaying action because it is human to do so, and not part of his character.

The events of the last scene are not what the audience would have expected to happen. One way to explain this is that Shakespeare wanted to disrupt the conventions of classical tragedy, which he may have seen as too heavily laden with stereotypes. His Macbeth, Othello, Brutus, even his King Lear, are, from the first act, so imprisoned in conventional attitudes that they become perfectly predictable. But, not in Hamlet; Shakespeare surprises us at each turn, it is the unpredictable, which dominates, and the final scene has only tenuous connections with the first act. Maybe Shakespeare chose in the final analysis only to present the themes, which for him had any fundamental importance: doubt and uncertainty therefore perhaps anticipating the theatre of the absurd and making it so popular.