Tuesday, October 27, 2009

ACT 1 fishbowl question

Is Laertes Hamlet's foil? Why or why not?

11 comments:

  1. I dont think Laertes is Hamlets foil although it does seem like he will cause conflict in order to be a foil the two charachters must have traits in common. Laertes seems controling and only worried about himself and his reputation. Hamlet however is willing to act crazy in order to avenge his father. He is not worried about his reputation and seems more noble.

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  2. Laertes and Hamlet undoubtedly have similar characteristics. For example, they both love Ophelia. Hamlet feels a romantic love towards her, while Laertes, her brother, feels loves and feels protective of her. In fact, he tries to warn her about Hamlet and he advised her to stay away from him. They both have controlling issues and they both have anger towards something or someone. I think that their similar qualities will lead to parallel stories and fates in the future.

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  3. Honestly I have to agree with Kayli. Leartes seems to just worry about his sister, and Hamlet loves her. I think all we can wait for is to see Ophelia does when she goes and visits Hamlet. Leartes also is the big brother who is looking out for his little sister, and Hamlet seems to just think about himself.

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  4. I do think Laertes is a foil to Hamlet, but it hasn't necessarily occured yet. Both of them have similar characteristics like love for Ophelia and loyalty. However, Laertes loves Ophelia as his sister, whereas she is Hamlet's true love. Ophelia's decision will decide the actions of Hamlet and Laertes. Ophelia will choose to betray her family or her love by the end of the play. This choice will effect their choices and that will determine if laertes is truly Hamlets foil.

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  5. I don't think that he's Hamlet's foil either. I think that if Hamlet is going to have a foil it's going to be Fortienbras because at the start of the story they are living through the same things.

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  6. I do think that Laertes is Hamlet's foil because they have many similarities. They both have Ophelia in common and even though they have different relationships with her they are both trying to contol her decision. They both are also trying to avenge their father's which could lead to similar story lines and similar things that they have to do. I think that by the end of the play they will have even more in common and they will have had similar paths that they went down.

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  7. Laertes and Hamlet are similar, but I wouldn't go as far to say that he is Hamlet's foil. I think he is a good parallel to Hamlet for the character's in the story. They are easy to compare and seem to have a lot of similar traits. But I think that Hamlet's story will end very differently from Laertes story, considering Laertes doesn't have to deal with the murder like Hamlet does.

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  8. I believe that Laertes is a foil to Hamelt. They are both being used by their parents. Polonius is using Laeretes to control Ophelia and Hamlet is being used by the Ghost of his father to avenge him and kill King Claudius. They both have minds of their own but are being manipulated into doing what their fathers' want so it appears that they are mindless drones.

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  9. I agree with Lexi. I think that there are many reasons that Fortinbras would be Hamlets foil. Hamlet has set out to revenge his fathers death and Fortinbras is working toward a very similar cause. Even though their lives have taken similar paths they still do not like each other.

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  10. I would say no, Laertes is not Hamlet's foil. I would say besides being in the same play Hamlet and Laertes truly does not connect at all. Hamlet's foil in my opinion is Fortinbras. Laertes has no qualm with Hamlet besides the fact that Hamlet is thought to love Ophelia. When in reality Fortinbras is going through the same stuff and is seeking revenge himself.

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  11. Yes i think that Laertes is hamlest foil. they have many similar charecteristics such as they are both very controlling, and the are trying to avenge their fathers murders. they are also both being used be people hamelt is being used by his fathers ghost to avenge his death and with laertes he is being used by his father to control ophelia. their only difference is that Hamlet is avenging his father because his ghost told him to and laertes is avenging his father out of anger. and that hamlet is indecisive and laertes is a mon of action. In the end they both end up dying trying to avenge their fathers and by eachothers swords.

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