To what extent would you agree that Hamlet and Laertes are presented as parallel characters within the context of a revenge tragedy?

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Will Taylor 12G1 

December 2002

Towards the end of the play, Hamlet comments:

                                        “But I am very sorry, good Horatio,

                                         That to Laertes I forgot myself.

                                         For by the image of my cause

                                         I see The portraiture of his.”

To what extent would you agree that Hamlet and Laertes are presented as parallel characters within the context of a revenge tragedy?

Traditionally, the avenger in the context of a revenge tragedy, disregards all codes of honour in pursuing their goal of natural justice. Hamlet clearly deviates from the classic revenge tragedy conventions due to the presence of multiple revenge plots. The two characters in question, are seen to differ in their conformity with the traditional concept of an avenger in a revenge tragedy. Hamlet is portrayed as an unconventional avenger, whereas Laertes conforms more to typical conventions of an avenger in a revenge tragedy.

Hamlet and Laertes are portrayed as parallel characters in the respect that they are both used by Claudius, who capitalises on their weak, emotional state with revenge solely on their minds. Claudius does not wish to kill Hamlet himself because “The Queen his mother/Lives almost by his looks” meaning that the Queen and Hamlet are very close and Claudius would not wish to inflict pain upon Queen Gertrude. The King exploits Laertes’ impulsive nature, and encourages him to act upon his honour and seek revenge against Hamlet.

It is clear from the initial scene in the play that the attention is focused on Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes, son of Polonius, advisor to the new king, Claudius, and Hamlet, son of the murdered king have their personalities contrasted from the outset. Laertes is immediately established as a favorite with the King, who refers to Laertes five times by name and immediately grants him permission to return to his studies in Paris. In this scene, Laertes' relationship with his father is introduced with them appearing in the scene together, although they do not address each other. A contrast is established in this scene between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes enjoys the King's favour and is readily given permission to resume his studies in Paris; Hamlet is not permitted to resume his studies in Wittenberg. On his second, and final, appearance before he departs, Laertes offers his sister Ophelia moral advice about her relationship with Hamlet. He speaks cynically about his feelings for her saying “Perhaps he loves you now…”                                                                                                                                                                                                     One manner in which Hamlet and Laertes are shown as parallel characters is in their role as avengers in the play. Hamlet has a role as an avenger, where his father’s ghost speaks to him, telling him Claudius is responsible and asking him to “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder”. Laertes also takes revenge against his father, Polonius’s death, immediately assuming Claudius is responsible and immediately returns home from France to seek revenge for the death.”
            However, there is a noticeable difference between Laertes and Hamlet when observing how they deal with their role as avengers. Laertes returns to Denmark from Paris, a city with frivolous connotations and more associated with art and literature rather than philosophy, which is why Laertes is less intellectually orientated than Hamlet. Laertes on learning of his father’s death reacts immediately, by speaking of revenge, “I dare damnation: to this point I stand, that both worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes; only I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father”. It is clear that Laertes has been brought up to fight and act upon the chivalric code, which is a middle-aged concept of hierarchical honour. In Elizabethan times, in the renaissance period, people became sceptical of the chivalric code and began to doubt its importance in society. Laertes would have been tought that justice and defence were two important aspects of the code and so it would be natural to him to bring Hamlet to justice, and defend his father’s name. In contrast, Hamlet, on learning of his father’s murder is asked by the ghost of his father to revenge the death. He is hesitant and procrastinates, wishing he had not been asked to complete such a task, “the time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!” Hamlet defies convention in the manner that he shuns his inherited role as an avenger, but is unable to avoid the reality that it is his destiny. He has lived his life as a scholar, going through university, with student friends such as Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, being trained in thought, giving him the ability to rationalise. However, he disregards this in his second soliloquy where he claims,

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“…from the table of my memory

I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records,

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past

That youth and observation copied there,

And thy commandment all alone shall live

Within the book and volume of my brain…”

 Suggesting education is no longer appropriate in Hamlet’s situation and that the only matter of importance is what the Ghost has told him. Hamlet attempts to convince himself this, but it is his education as a philosophical scholar which ultimately leads to his indecision and resistance to take any decisive action that results in the tragedy of ...

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