First of all, Shakespeare uses Fortinbras as a contrast to Hamlet. Fortinbras and Hamlet are both seeking revenge for the death of their fathers and are faced with making decisions about how to take their revenge. Fortinbras" father was killed by Hamlet Sr. and therefore Fortinbras goes to war over a worthless piece of territory just to uphold the honour of his father. "The imminent death .go to their graves like beds .which is not tomb enough and continent to hide the slain." (Hamlet, IV, iv, 59-64). Family honour is just as important to Fortinbras as it is to Hamlet. A key difference between them is that Fortinbras did not procrastinate, like Hamlet and lived, while Hamlet procrastinated and not only died but caused the death of other innocent people. Fortinbras has the capability to make a plan, and act it out even with the possibilities of unexpected obstacles arising. This proves that Fortinbras is more eager to prove his courage and uphold his family honour than Hamlet is. He could and did what he wanted, while Hamlet thought of different things but could not take action. Fortinbras had no difficulty in slaying innocent people in an attempt to uphold honour. However, Hamlet had a lot of difficulties in slaying the guilty. Hamlet contrasts his capabilities to act to those of Fortinbras. "When honour's at the stake, how stand I then trick of fame." (IV, iv, 55-60) Fortinbras" ability to act and his leadership weakens Hamlet in the eyes of the reader. Hamlet wants justice to be served, along with honour, all while seeking revenge. Fortinbras is able to avenge his father and more importantly regain his father's honour in doing so. However, Hamlet waits till the end of the play to ensure that honour is regained and that justice is served. .
Secondly, Claudius is used by Shakespeare as a foil for Hamlet. Claudius and Hamlet are similar is some regards but have more evident differences. They both kill a king in the play; however, they had both done so for different reasons.
Hamlet Dramatic Foil in a play is where a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast. ... Shakespeare uses dramatic foil to analyze the character of Hamlet. ... This is the foil that Shakespeare uses to undermine the anger of Hamlet. ... This dramatic foil also helps the reader analyze Hamlet by revealing his inner traits. ... Hamlet's problems are directly parallel to the foil. ...
A foil character is described as a character in a literary work that compliments the main character through similarites and differences through their personalities. We can recognize similarities and differences between Hamlet and any of the characters, but, there are two characters in the play that have so much in common with Hamlet that they must be described as the most important foils. ... It is the resemblances between Laertes, Fortinbras and Hamlet that make the differences so noticeable and thus helps shape the character of Hamlet. ... (Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, the...
How does Shakespeare use foil characters in his play Hamlet? ... Foil characters are used to constantly compare the actions of Hamlet and the possible actions of other characters if they were put in his situation. ... Foil characters add psychological depth to the play and the link of Hamlet to that of a Renaissance man and furthering himself helps us to understand the nature of Hamlet. ... Perhaps one of Hamlet's most obvious foil characters is Fortinbras. ... We can diagnose the qualities of the foil characters which help us appreciate the qualities of Hamlet the foil characters h...
It is said that one cannot truly understand ones character without understanding ones character foils. ... Through comparing the different characters and their character foils one is able to gain insight on Hamlet. ... Through comparing and contrasting these two characters one is able to truly understand their character foils that led to their death. ... Horatio cared for Hamlet greatly, and so Hamlet cared greatly for Horatio. ... By comparing and contrasting their character foils to that of Hamlet's, one was able to recognize the various possible causes of Hamlet's downfall. ...
A foil is one type of comparison that authors tend to use in their genre of writing. Foil is a technique that is used when a character, who, through striking differences, similarities, and strong contrast, underscores the protagonist's distinctive characteristics. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare uses the "foil" technique where the characters of Fortinbras and Laertes serve as ones to Hamlet. ... Fortinbras serves as a foil to Hamlet due to his striking similarities and differences that Shakespeare exposes throughout the play. ... Laertes is also manifested as a foil to Hamlet s...
Hamlet and Laertes, two of the three main/prominent young men in Hamlet (Fortinbras being the third) are each other's foil characters. ... From the start of the play, Hamlet and Laertes' interests have been stated so as to show their opposing personalities. ... Therefore, one can note from the beginning that Hamlet is a man of thought while Laertes is a man of action. ... Only in this situation did Hamlet act very Laertes-like, which is usually very unlike his character. ... This attribute of Hamlet makes him trick Laertes into thinking he is not a good fencer, who then underestimat...
Many others were killed: his mother, the court advisor Polonius, his son Leartes, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Hamlet's Love Ophelia, and Hamlet himself; all because of Hamlet's procrastination. Hamlet's supposed two friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are sent to learn more of Hamlet's motives, when King Claudius suspects Hamlet is plotting against him. ... The character foils of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of the court's ambassadors, Cornilius and Voltimand. ... Voltimand and Cornilius are the true character foils of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz shown thro...
Hamlet's Delayed Action *Hamlet is an emotional human being who feels guilt, remorse, and has responsibilities; he also feels pride and a sense of duty. ... The Ghost, Hamlet's father, explained his death and instructed Hamlet to kill Claudius. Hamlet describes the Ghost as, "My father's spirit in arms! ... Both proving Hamlet has an antic disposition and his obsession with his mother only add to the validity of Hamlet's actions. ... Hamlet's indecisiveness prevents him from being poisoned by Claudius while fencing and from dying by Laertes" foil. ...
Hamlet's Delayed Action Hamlet is an emotional human being who feels guilt, remorse, and has responsibilities; he also feels pride and a sense of duty. ... The Ghost, Hamlet's father, explained his death and instructed Hamlet to kill Claudius. Hamlet describes the Ghost as, "My father's spirit in arms! ... Both proving Hamlet has an antic disposition and his obsession with his mother only add to the validity of Hamlet's actions. ... Hamlet's indecisiveness prevents him from being poisoned by Claudius while fencing and from dying by Laertes" foil. ...