Literary techniques evoke images, emotions, and, in the case of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” teach a lesson. The dominant literary technique running throughout “Hamlet” is the presence of foils. A foil is a character who, through strong contrasts and surprising similarities, underlines the distinctive characteristics of the protagonist. Hamlet shares many distinct characteristics and situations with both Laertes, son of the slain Polonius, and Fortinbras, son of the slain king of Norway. However, the three sons of murdered fathers see their situation differently and try to get even in different ways. Shakespeare uses the similarities and differences between the characters to accentuate the alternative paths that Prince Hamlet could have taken in his quest for revenge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayAfter King Hamlet's death, Queen Gertrude and the king's younger brother, Claudius, are hastily married (1.2.1-13). Since Prince Hamlet still has to return from school to take the throne, Claudius declares himself king. Grief-stricken, Hamlet does not protest but rather sulks at the very thought that his mother could be involved in such an incestuous relationship. When Hamlet learns that his father did not die of natural causes, but rather was murdered by Hamlet's new stepfather, Hamlet vows to take revenge (1.5.118-19). However, there are some distinguishing characteristics in Hamlet's personality and situation that illustrate his inability to carry out his vows of revenge. Hamlet is a cultured and moral man. He is quite rational and, no matter how passionate he is, thinks about his actions before committing them. He even expresses his resentment that he has to be the one to fix the situation when he says, “O cursed spite, if ever I were born to set things right (1.5.210-11).” Furthermore, Hamlet is a Christian, and therefore must keep in mind that his actions will be judged later in the afterlife. In Hamlet's central soliloquy, he states, "Thus conscience makes cowards of us all," referring to the fact that morality prevents him from acting (3.1.91). Another factor that prevents Hamlet from taking revenge is the fact that the story of his father's murder can only be confirmed by a Ghost. The rest of the court, except Claudius, thinks that King Hamlet died of natural causes. Hamlet must consider the consequences of his actions and the possibility of his own imprisonment if he were to kill Claudius. When Hamlet finally shows that he is ready to act by saying, “Let us defy the omen. There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow… Preparation is everything,” it is essentially too late (5.2.233-37). Claudius and Laertes have already plotted against Hamlet and his time is up. In this sense, Hamlet's downfall comes not from his inability to act, but from the time he chose to take before acting. The young Fortinbras finds himself in a situation very similar to that of Prince Hamlet. His father was killed and the country was left in the hands of his uncle (1.2.28-32). However, there are two main differences between Hamlet's and Fortinbras' situations that define their fate. The first difference is that King Hamlet was murdered by poisoning, while King Fortinbras died on the battlefield (1.1.95). Hamlet's desire to kill Claudius is driven by revenge, while Fortinbras' plan, however personal it may be, is carried out in the name of the Norwegian nation and in the name of honor. Hamlet also compliments Fortinbras on this point when he says: "Justly to be great is not to move without great discussion, but to find much.