Jaclyn Wilson
ENG3U0
Mr. Gale
Friday, November 7th, 2008

Final Assignment - The Comparison of Hamlet and Laertes

The two characters Hamlet and Laertes, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, are very similar. The largest similarity between the two characters is that not only have they both experienced the same situation, but they also both reacted in the same way. The experience that each have encountered was a very stressful and rage filled one. The problem that both characters were to face was the cruel deaths of their fathers. Hamlet’s father was the first to die; he was murdered by his cowardly brother. Hamlet was outraged by this unfair result that had befallen his beloved father. In an effort to console himself and to appease his father’s ghost and honour, Hamlet swore that he would avenge his father’s death. This meant that no matter what Hamlet was going to kill whoever was responsible for murdering his father. Laertes father was also murdered; and so Laertes, along with Hamlet, swore to avenge his father’s death. Laertes and Hamlet are alike in that they both were incredibly upset by their fathers’ deaths and both of their objectives were to avenge their fathers. Surprisingly, Hamlet had not realized that Laertes was in the same position he himself was in. this posed a problem because Hamlet was upset at who had murdered his father and Laertes was upset at Hamlet for murdering his father. Hamlet shows that he has recognized the position Laertes is in by stating: “For by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his” (V.II.77-78). Hamlet has realized that both he and Laertes are in the same position and he now understands Laertes better. Secondly, they are similar in that they both have accepted what they must do in order to avenge their fathers and that both end up apologizing to each other and forgiving each other as well. They are similar in that both accept each other’s purpose and instead of acting poorly they simply apologize and forgive each other. This is shown when Laertes says: “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee. Nor thine on me!”(V.II.322-324).This shows that they are both forgiving each other and clearing each other’s conscience. Truly, these two characters are not only in the same situation but they have both handled it in the same manner. They also have similar personalities which are shown by them both apologizing and accepting each others apologies. Both Laertes and Hamlet are understanding and loyal characters who end up realizing and accepting each other and what they have to do.