Explore the differences in the ways Hamlet and Laertes go about seeking revenge

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Explore the differences in the ways Hamlet and Laertes go about seeking revenge.

This essay will consider the relevance of father/son relationships to motive for and the manner of revenge, the initial responses of both Hamlet and Laertes to the news of the murder of their father. Finally I will conclude by comparing how Hamlet's and Laertes' responses each compare with Fortinbras' responses to his fathers death.

The relationship each son had with his father is important, because it can be seen what motivates them for revenge, and whether or not their father's influence inspires such vengeance. Hamlets' relationship with his father is only shown after his demise. This is the only way we are able to see father and son interact. What we do see of this indicates that they do not have a good relationship, as the ghost of Hamlet's father takes no pains to cover up the torment he endures beyond the grave. The ghost wants Hamlet to ''revenge his foul and most unnatural murder'' and warns that he would find Hamlet a ''fat weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf'' if he did not avenge his death. The ghost might have said this quite scathingly, perhaps because he is aware of Hamlet's tendency to contemplate every action, and failure to get things done quickly. The love in this relationship is clearly one sided, Hamlet later on in the play, in Act 3 Scene 3-4 shows his mother a picture of his late father and a picture of Claudius. He bitterly comments on how superior his father is with his ''Hyperion curls'', ''grace'' and ''eye like Mars to threaten and command'' compared to Claudius. He is furious and obviously holds his father in high regard. The abnormality of Hamlet's situation is emphasised when the ghost appears before Hamlet and his mother in act 3 Scene 4.

When Hamlet's situation is compared to the relationship Laertes shares with his father, the result is starkly different. They both appear to have a very close father-son relationship and in Act 1 scene 3 we can see a conversation between them, where Polonius is giving Laertes fatherly advice on how to behave when in Paris. Among the many aphorisms given by Polonius, he warns Laertes too not "give any unproportioned thought his act; Later on in the play, we can of course, see that Laertes ignores this heartfelt piece of advice when seeking revenge on Hamlet. Through not sitting down and thinking the situation out calmly, he jumped to the wrong conclusions. Polonius went so far as to ask for Claudius' permission for Laertes to leave for Paris on Laertes' behalf. The language he uses such as "he wrung from me my slow leave" does not suggest anything other than a father who carries nothing but deep affection for his son, and does not which to see him leave. No sooner are we shown the cruel and malicious treatment of Hamlet by hid dead father, then we are shown the stark contrast of Laertes and Polonius' concerned and endearingly caring farewell conversation.
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As well as having completely different familial relationships, Hamlet and Laertes themselves form one of the most important polarities in all of the play. This is important in understanding why both characters have different methods of avenging their fathers. As the plot progresses, Hamlet's hesitance and general inability to obtain his father's revenge, will be heavily contrasted with Laertes' fierce willingness to avenge his fathers' death.

Before Hamlet spoke to the ghost, he didn't know that his father had been murdered. When the ghost asks him to ''revenge his foul and most unnatural murder'' Hamlet replies ''Murder?'' ...

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