To this, King Claudius replies “Why, now you speak/ Like a good child”(4.5.143), and though he finishes the statement with “and a gentleman”, the implication is left that Laertes is like a child, rushing headlong into the unknown, the first implication of Laertes’ own tragic flaw. Laertes sees things in black and white, and so, when Hamlet seduces Ophelia (Laertes' sister), causing her to fall in love with him, Laertes exudes a sense of discomfort, angered by the way his sister is being treated. Shakespeare exposes to his audience the similarities between Hamlet and Laertes in various instances throughout the play. Claudius says that it’s because the queen loves her son and he loves the queen. Now Laertes knows that is was Hamlet who took the life of his father away. Â In this play written by William Shakespeare, Laertes’ character is portrayed as a foil to the main character of Prince Hamlet. A foil is a character whose traits are opposite of those of another character and who thus points out to the reader the strengths and weaknesses of another character. By giving Laertes the same problem, to which he makes the exact opposite response, Shakespeare is able to make comparisons, and thus highlight the response of Hamlet in even greater depth. Laertes and Hamlet have much in … Laertes impresses upon. 6. Upon hearing about his father’s death, Hamlet procrastinates and doesn’t do anything in order to take revenge as he spends too much time debating whether or not Claudius was responsible for the murder. Laertes is one of many characters in the popular play called Hamlet. Hamlet's extensive love for Ophelia resulted in grave Laertes voices his concern of Hamlet's true intentions towards Ophelia. marriage. In Hamlet, common opinion states that Shakespeare probably created Laertes as a foil to Hamlet. It’s almost as if Laertes comes back the moment Hamlet has lost his cool and subsequently acts as rage and impulse epitomized. If Laertes was a mere peasant, comparing him to the likes of a Prince would be unparalleled. Fortinbras does take action but unfortunately does not get to invade Denmark Hamlet's strong love for Ophelia withers after she rejects. A character used in that way is a device known as a foil, so in literary terms, we say that Laertes is a foil to Hamlet. Ophelia, Hamlet is a prince who most likely will have an arranged. Like Hamlet, Laertes wants to avenge his father, but does it in a much more passionate way. Laertes serves as a foil for Hamlet in that they are both faced with the murder of their respective fathers, but whereas Hamlet broods and plots, Laertes immediately begins to … Hamlet is humane, yet frustrating, in the treatment of his vengeance and other pertinent situations in the tragedy. 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