Nancy Phan

Lit. Modern Media

Period 1
Hohl
17 December 2014

Hamlet and His Foils

In the tragedy, Hamlet, William Shakespeare perfectly demonstrates the literary device
of character foil. In literature, a foil is often where the protagonist's key qualities and
characteristics are highlighted by the behavior of another character (Literary Devices). Through
the use of the literary device of character foil, readers can analyze different aspects of each
character and how each character would react in a similar situation. While nearly every
character can be seen as an apparent foil to Hamlet, there are three characters that seem to
stand out. Though they are all faced with the same crisis that Hamlet is facing, each of Hamlet's
foils react in their own way and methods, thus, setting them apart from each other.
Firstly, Ophelia, daughter of Polonius the Chief Council of the King, serves as an
apparent foil of Hamlet. Ophelias genuine madness sets her different from Hamlets feigned
madness. Hamlet's madness only manifest itself when he is in the presence of certain
characters. Hamlet even reveals to his best friend Horatio that " however strange or odd I
[Hamlet] might sometimes behave...it is best to feign insanity" (Shakespeare I.v.188-191).
Hamlet has warned Horatio that he will be faking madness and putting on an act in order to
deceive others. Hamlet saw how much his feigned madness was gaining because he fulfilled his
purpose of trying to throw the other characters around him off track (Crawford). Hamlet even
revealed to his mother that "I [Hamlet] essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft"
(Shakespeare III.iv.204-205). At this point, Hamlet is confronting his mother and explaining to
her about his intentions and the truth about his father. This statement makes it clear that in fact

Hamlet is sane by stating that he is only pretending and this is all an act. Hamlet's madness in
no way reflects Ophelia's sincere madness because Ophelia constantly "speaks foolishly, halfwittedly" and therefore what she says does not make sense (IV.iv.7-8). Readers can see this
through her songs for her father and her disconnection to reality which even leads Claudius to
even think that she's obsessed with her father. Her insanity sets her different from Hamlet
because he doesn't act the same as she and he has full control of his psyche. Thus, Hamlet's
insanity was not sincere as Ophelia's madness. She was strongly affected by her father's death,
especially because it was under Hamlet's hand, whom she was in love with, and this this
unfortunately led her to commit suicide. Through her passionate devotion to her father, readers
can see that Ophelia's madness was far more sincere than Hamlet's feigned madness.
Next, Laertes, son of Polonius, also serves as a foil of Hamlet. Hamlet accidently killed
Laertes' father Polonius, placing Laertes in the same situation of something killing their father.
Yet, while Hamlet was full of self doubt when he heard of the news that Claudius murdered his
father, Laertes was quick to avenge his father's death. Laertes said himself, "Come what may,
I'm going to be thoroughly revenge for my father's death" (IV.v.146-147). Indeed, Hamlet did
have the same mentality and determination when he heard the news about his father's death
but, he hesitated to act, which sets him different from Laertes. There was no stalling by
pondering about life and death or looking back at his conscience; the matter was simple and
clear that Laertes has to avenge his father's death by killing Hamlet. Laertes also showed great
pleasure when he was given the opportunity to kill Hamlet through a fencing match. He
expressed his feelings when he said, "It does my sick heart good to think that I shall live to tell
him to his face: "This is your death" (IV.vii.57-60). Hamlet had the perfect moment to kill
Claudius and avenge his own father when Claudius was praying, yet, he hesitated and
convinced himself out of that perfect moment. Hamlet showed fear and his decision to put off his
revenge makes him not a man of his words. Therefore, even though both Hamlet and Laertes

were put in almost the same situation, Laertes can be considered to be greater for his courage
and determination to act swiftly.
Lastly, Fortinbras, prince of Norway, is another apparent foil of Hamlet because he
encounters some circumstances that are parallel to Hamlet. Fortinbras' father was killed by
Hamlet's father long ago over a land dispute and instead of inheriting the throne, his uncle was
crowned king. The similarities between the two are obvious: each is a prince, each lost the
throne to their uncle's, each has the duty to avenge their father's death. Hamlet learns that
Fortinbras' army will be moving through Denmark to take over Poland. At this news, he claims
that "he [Fortinbras] risks his life, exposing himself to chance, death and danger, and all for an
empty shell" (IV.iv.53-55). Hamlet doesn't understand Fortinbras' motive and willingness to risk
his own life and the life of his soldiers to end up with nothing. However, Hamlet begins to reflect
on the nature of the military movement and begins to feel ashamed that even though Fortinbras
doesn't have a good reason to fight Poland, it doesn't matter because Fortinbras is fighting to
keep his family's honor. Therefore, Hamlet begins comparing himself to Fortinbras and says, "I
have a father who has been murdered,a mother who has been defiled, and motives inspired
both by reason by reason and passion: yet I have nothing...to my shame" (IV.iv.58-61). Hamlet
begins to see Fortinbras as a man of action even when Fortinbras is determine to act for
something meaningless while, he [Hamlet] procrastinates on something worth fighting for. At this
moment of the play, Hamlet decides that "strong action is better than rational debate" and
Fortinbras provides him with the ambition and motivation to move on ahead with his plans
although it is too late (Smith). Thus, Fortinbras was caught in the same crisis as Hamlet, he is
an example a man of acting swiftly with little thought, which sets him opposite of Hamlet in that
aspect. Fortinbras, a strong soldier, plays as an important role of being Hamlet's foil because he
defines the aspects that Hamlet needed to possess in order to succeed in avenging his father
(Viceroid).

While Ophelia, Laertes, and Fortinbras all have to deal with the same issues as Hamlet,
the way which they react their personal situation sets them apart from Hamlet. Thus, making it
easier for readers to see in which aspect in which Hamlet is succeeding and failing, through his
journey to avenge his father's death. Through Ophelia, readers can see that she showed true
grief for her father which caused her to become mad, whereas Hamlet's feigned madness was
just to deceive his mother, Gertrude, and King Claudius highlights his insincerity. Laertes'
willingness to act swiftly to avenge his father's death highlights Hamlet's inability to act even
when he had the perfect opportunity to perform his duty. Fortinbras' determination to go to great
lengths, even war, to fulfill his goal and maintain not only his own, but his family's honor
highlights Hamlet's half-hearted attempts to avenge his father (Viceroid). These similarities and
differences create parallels between these three characters in order to reveal the true nature of
Hamlet and ultimately unveiling his tragic flaw.

Works Cited
Crawford, Alexander W. "Hamlet's Antic Disposition". Boston R.G. Badger, 1916. Shakespeare
Online. 20 Aug. 2009. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.shakespeareonline.com/plays/hamlet/antichamlet.html >.

"Foil - Examples and Definition of Foil". Literary Devices. N.p., 28 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Dec.
2014. <http://literarydevices.net/foil/>.
Smith, Nicole. "The Foil Character in Shakespeare : Laertes, Claudius and Fortinbras". Article
Myriad. Article Myriad, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.articlemyriad.com/foil-character-shakespeare-laertes-claudius-fortinbras/>.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited and Rendered into Modern English by Alan Durband.
Shakespeare Made Easy. S.l.: Hutchinson, 1986. Print.
Viceroid. "The Application of Foils in Hamlet". FictionPress, 6 June 2006. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.
<https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2202924/1/The-Application-of-Foils-in-Hamlet>.