I liked to welcome you all back to my blog! I know I haven't posted a blog in a while and for that I'll say I have been very busy of late. However, I did manage to read on, and all I can say is immense bravo to you William Shakespeare. I have never read a play filled with some much uncertainty and suspense. I'm guessing you all know that our comic relief of a character Polonius was killed by the "supposed madman" Hamlet. Sad isn't it. Moving on, I would love to share with you all the topic of today's discussion; "Hamlet's Foils". Foil? What is a foil? Hmmm......? Then I realized a foil means someone who is the complete opposite of you. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio is a foil to Mercutio. Benvolio is peaceful and unselfish, whereas Mercutio is self-centered and violent. Carrying on, Fortinbras and Laertes are two characters that are a strong contrast to Hamlet. Hence, they are foils to the noble Hamlet. I'm guessing majority of readers feel the same when I say that all three characters share something in common. All three character are seeking revenge on behave of their father's deaths. However, both Fortinbras and Laertes have taken immediate action to avenge their father's death, whereas Hamlet hesitates. Fortinbras is seen as a man of action, and courageous, while Hamlet is seen as a man who is indecisive. Upon hearing his father's death, Hamlet vows to seek revenge, however it takes him about five acts to do so. I'm pretty sure anyone who is the position of Hamlet, would not have hesitated in carrying out their revenge or seek justice. For that I truly believe Hamlet is a coward. His is a coward because he is afraid of carrying out his revenge. While, young Fortinbras "... Whose spirit, with divine ambition puffed/ Makes mouths at the invisible event/ Exposing what is mortal and unsure/ To all fortune, death, and danger,/ Even for an eggshell." (IV, IV, 51-55). While, Hamlet is mopping the floor with his sorrow, Fortinbras takes immediate action in order to achieve what he wants, even though what he wants seems meaningless in Hamlet's eyes. Hamlet even admires Fortinbras, and feels that Fortinbras posses certain characteristics that he desires. On the other hand, Laertes whose father was murdered by Hamlet, comes back to Denmark in haste, vowing to seek revenge for his father's death. Laertes who is enraged, storms into the castle with his group of supporters and says to the King "[H]ow did he come to die? I'll not be juggled with./ To hell with my allegiance!"(IV, V, 141-142). He goes on to say "[L]et come what comes, only I'll be revenged/ Most thoroughly for my father's death" (IV, V, 146-147). Without even thinking Laertes storms into the castle vowing seek revenge against the man who killed his father. Similarly, both Laertes and Fortinbras take immediate action to avenge their father's deaths. Fortinbras the son of the late king of Norway, quickly assembles an army to invade and capture Denmark, the land his father lost. From this, I can only say that Fortinbras and Laertes are honorable men. Both men honor the father's death, by seeking revenge upon those who killed their father's.
In my opinion, I believe that Hamlet over-thinks too much and his conscience has gotten the best of him, which causes him to delay his revenge. Whereas, Laertes and Fortinbras do not over-think. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is due to the fact he other-thinks, which makes him hesitate in carrying out his revenge. A perfect example of this is when Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius while he seems to be praying, but Hamlet over-thinks the situation, which causes him to not avenge his father’s death. I think by nature Hamlet is an indecisive person, whereas some are born decisive. However, that's just my opinion. Everyone has the right to voice their own opinion. So what do you think? Have you discovered any other reasons why Fortinbras and Laertes are foils to Hamlet? If so, comment below!!!