Hamlet's Delay

Carlos A. Romero
Mrs. Cocciolone
College Preparatory English 12
10 January 2011
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Strength and Weakness of its Characters
Since authors have picked up the pen, they have highlighted themes that are relevant even today. Lust, power, love, avarice, revenge, are not new concepts, in fact, all of these sins can be found in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet is oneof the best known tragedies in history. The sociological and psychological situation in 13th century Europe, specifically England, is shown in this story, hidden in the Scandinavian country of Denmark. The battle between strength and weakness is presented in most of the characters and is prominently depicted in Claudius, Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Gertrude, Ophelia, and of course,Hamlet. This analysis will not include the female characters, Gertrude and Ophelia as according to Samuel Johnson’s critique on Harold Bloom’s book “Hamlet”: “the incidents are so numerous, that the argument of the play would make a long tale” (Sam. Bl. 7).
According to the Oxford Dictionary, strength is the “quality or state of being physically and mentally strong. The emotional or mental qualitiesare necessary in dealing with difficult or distressing situations” (Ox. 1). Also, the Oxford Dictionary explains that “weakness is the state or condition of lacking strength” (Ox. 1).
Using these definitions of strength and weakness and according to these analyses Claudius, Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Hamlet, the understanding of the characteristics of the other main characters of thestory, such as Laertes, Fortinbras, Horatio and King Hamlet, is absolutely necessary.

The first of these characters, Laertes shows signs of strength in the whole play. In the words of A. C. Bradley,
Laertes, who is evidently designed to throw the character of the hero into relief. Even in the situations there is a curious parallelism: for Laertes, like Hamlet, has a father slain, and feelsbound to avenge him. And with this parallelism in situation there is a strong contrast in character; Laertes possess in abundance the very quality which the hero seems to lack, so that, as we read, we are tempted to exclaim that he would have accomplished Hamlet’s task in a day. (Brad. 89-128).
Bradley describes a very important matter about Laertes. He explains that this character is placed inthe play to throw the hero (Hamlet) into relief. For this reason, and for all his actions in the play, Shakespeare presents a very strong character that at one moment is giving advice on love to his sister, and at the other is ending with his life in an epical battle for the revenge of his father’s murderer. Laertes is not the only character that shows strength. The prince of Norway, Fortinbras,shows very strong signs of strength. Again, according to A. C. Bradley,
Even in the situations there is a curious parallelism; for Fortinbras, like Hamlet, is the son of the King, lately dead, and succeeded by his brother. And with this parallelism in situation there is a strong contrast in character; Fortinbras possess in abundance the very quality which the hero seems to lack, so that as weread, we are tempted to exclaim that either of them would have accomplished Hamlet’s task in a day. (Brad. 89-128).
As Laertes, Fortinbras is shown in the play as a very strong character, who even when he has a very similar life to Hamlet, he possesses abundant strength, a quality that the hero seems to lack. For that reason, and even at the end when most of the characters are dead, he rises fromPoland and takes the power of Denmark. Laertes and Fortinbras have very similar characteristics of strength; however, they both show strength as heroes and warriors. Hamlet’s best friend, Horatio, is a hero in a different way. According to the authors of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia,
Horatio is Hamlet's most trusted friend, to whom Hamlet reveals all his plans. Several times Hamlet swears...