Laertes and Horatio as foils to Hamlet In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare uses a cast of characters who have many roles. Of this cast, Shakespeare uses two characters, Laertes and Horatio, as foils for the character of Hamlet. Through similarities and differences, these characters accentuate Hamlet's pretense of being mad, highlight how Hamlet is an improper son by the standards of the time, and make him a tragic hero. A foil is a minor character who helps develop a main character by sharing similarities. and differences with the main character. This is a common practice that Shakespeare uses in many of his plays. The use of complements in Hamlet is particularly effective in stating Hamlet's anguish. Laertes and Hamlet share two key similarities. Both Laertes and Hamlet want to avenge their father's death. Hamlet wants revenge against his uncle and Laertes wants revenge against Hamlet. Both want to protect their last name. The revenge that Hamlet desires is what drives him to pretend to be mad. He is attempting to use his dementia as a ploy to get his uncle to confess to the murder. Laertes and Hamlet are both believed to behave improperly on the part of their parents. Laertes' father sends two spies to Paris to watch over his son and report their findings because, "in his worldliness and cynicism, he is absolutely sure that he knows how young people behave when they are away from parental control." [Source?] This perspective suggests the way Hamlet behaves without the control of his parents. Hamlet is presumed to be mad because he claims to see the ghost of his dead father[' H-50] and is haunted by... middle of the paper... the substantial causes (reasons) of Hamlet's behavior are shown, then not is he shown acting reasonably and not madly?] By using similarities and differences to contrast them with Hamlet, Shakespeare uses minor characters to help the reader learn or understand Hamlet better. This is why Laertes and Horatio are Hamlet's opposites. Both of these minor characters interact with Hamlet throughout the play and consistently present him as a tragic hero. [Teacher's Note: The main point discussed in relation to Laertes could have been better made using Fortinbras and the evidence provided in Horace's discussion seems to demonstrate exactly the opposite of what the writer claims. On the other hand, the writer has started with an excellent thesis and has attempted, throughout the essay, to support it. ]