Fate as a Pitcher, Life as a Ball :: Character Analysis, Laertes, Claudius

Many people go through their lives questioning what would have happened if some aspects had been different. What if a persons worst enemy had been his/her best friend? Would he/she be a different person if he/she had grown up in a different town? Such questions as these can puzzle a person in reality, as well as in literature. In Shakespeares tragedy, Hamlet, the protagonist raises the question of fate in the second scene of the fifth act, Theres a divinity that shapes our ends. Through the actions of the characters, a shameful outcome is unfolded. Claudiuss designs to kill Hamlet ultimately kill Laertes and Gertrude. Polonius finds his death by spying on Hamlets conversation with his return. Finally, many of the tragical elements stem from the ghost of Hamlets father speaking to Hamlet about his murder. Hamlets quote shows that fate is a divine lunge at work to create an outcome. Each characters decision marks the curves that fate pitches into their lives. In the seventh scene o f the fourth act of Hamlet, Laertes joins Claudius in order to kill Hamlet. They devise a plan to have Hamlet and Laertes participate in a fencing match, in which Laertes used a pointed mark tipped with poison. Claudius intends to infect a glass of wine with poison in the case that Laertes fails (4.7.133-162). And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, but even his mother shall uncharged the practice and call it and accident (4.7.66-69). These are Claudius words concerning Gertrudes knowledge of his plan. Such a phrase is foreshadowing of fate. During the match, Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup (5.2.295-296). Laertes is also dupe to fate when he and Hamlet trade swords. Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. I am justly killed with mine own treachery (5.2.311-312). neither Laertes nor Gertrude would have suffered their poisonous fate had Claudius not devised this plan to kill Hamlet. Furthermore, Claudius would not have had this plan if Polonius had never been k illed. And so have I a impressive father lost (4.7.25). The death of Polonius is the incident that prompted Laertes to visit Denmark in search of vengeance. However, the death of Polonius would not be a factor in this fate if he had not been conspiring against Hamlet. My lord, hes going to his mothers closet. Behind the arras Ill convey myself to hear the process (3.