"Hamlet", by William Shakespeare: Compare and contrast the presentation of characters and argue how effectively each character seems to further the dramatic situation of the play.

Set in seventh century Denmark, "Hamlet", written by William Shakespeare, exposes the intricacies of the human mind through his presentation of characters. Shakespeare is able to further the dramatic situation of the play by providing foils to Hamlet in the extreme. Both Laertes and Ophelia mirror Hamlet but behave in opposite manners in reaction to Polonius' death. Meanwhile, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are torn between loyalties just as Hamlet. The difference between Laertes, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Hamlet is that the four supporting characters were more responsive an…