Compare
Ophelia and the Queen:
Both seem to care about Hamlet in some way
and throughout the play they worry a lot about
his mental health.
Both are being deceived by Hamlet and do not
know his true intent.
Both are hurt by Hamlet’s actions in the end of
Act 3 and throughout Act 4.
Hamlet and Laertes:
Both love and care about Ophelia and don’t
really want to hurt her.
Both have felt the loss of their fathers by people
that they are supposed to trust.
Both want revenge for the death of their fathers.
Both are intelligent and strong young men that
are very determined in whatever they do.
Both assume that The King is a liar and is as
untrustworthy as a devil. (Hamlet thinks that
Claudius is spying in him and mother and
accidentally stabs Polonius, also once Claudius
marries Hamlet’s mother he feels something is
wrong, Laertes immediately thinks that
Claudius killed his father once he first hears of
it his death)
Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern:
Both are childhood friends of Hamlet.
Both seem to care about his mental health and
worry about whether he is really crazy or not.
Contrast
Ophelia and the Queen:
Ophelia is much more innocent than the Queen
and has no real form of willpower to do her
own thing like Queen Gertrude.
Ophelia listens and obeys everyone’s wishes
especially the men despite how wrong it may
seem to her.
Queen Gertrude is more independent in a way
despite her somewhat dependency on men such
as the King. The Queen is also more stubborn
than Ophelia and doesn’t like to admit being
wrong even when Hamlet confronts her.
Hamlet and Laertes:
Laertes does not really approve of Hamlet due
to his odd behavior during Act 1.
Laertes doesn’t want Hamlet to be with his
sister and due to his (and his father’s) request
Ophelia and Hamlet are driven apart.
Hamlet’s revenge is all just talk during the
majority of the play while Laertes springs into
action once he knows someone killed his father.
Hamlet is not as easily manipulated by the King
as Laertes is and in contrast Hamlet manipulates
the King with his intellect rather than accepting
the lies that Laertes took for truth.
Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern:
Horatio is the voice of reason while the others
are just pawns in the king’s plans.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betray Hamlet
for money from the King while Horatio stays
loyal throughout the play.
Horatio is the only one who lives in the end
while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern die in
England.