Write a three pages essay about Three sons - Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras - all lose fathers and seek to avenge their deaths. Discuss the three avengers' actions in terms of their reasonableness (Is their quest/revenge justified?), emotionalism (How large a part does emotion play?), and success (What defines success? Who is, and who isn't, successful?) . Make sure to make use of the text to support your analysis. Use copious quotes from the text to support your thesis. Do not forget to have a Works Cited page.
A little background of the characters: Fortinbras - lost his father honorably before he could have really known him. He seeks revenge by first forming an army under his uncle's nose, and then, when thwarted, goes to attack Poland BUT manages to arrive just in time to take the throne of Denmark. Laertes - leaves Paris upon hearing of his father's death and assembles a mob, threatens the king - and all before he has the facts.
Hamlet - when he is told by the Ghost that his uncle killed him, he seeks revenge. But he doesn't go to the people (like Laertes), instead taking it upon himself to first ascertain if the ghost is true, and then bring about revenge himself. Laertes and Hamlet act as foils to one another. Of course you will have more to say about Laertes and Hamlet than Fortinbras, but you should still be able to discuss him (look at what others say about him).