A foil when defined is one that by contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another. In the play the two characters which served as Hamlet's foils were Horatio and the Ghost of the late king, who was Hamlet's father. Each served as foils in different aspects of the definition.I believe that Horatio was Hamlet's strongest foil. He was a fellow student of Hamlet's as well as a good friend. Through the entirety of the play he remained alongside him supporting his decisions and providing him with any information he had. ...view middle of the document...
Through his bravery and loyalty he complimented Hamlet and they were able to maintain a stable relationship, for Hamlet was unable to do this with many of the people in his life.Although many would argue that the Ghost of the late king could most definitely not serve as a foil of Hamlet's, I strongly disagree. The definition of a foil also states that it is one who enhances the distinctive characteristics of another. This is exactly what the ghost did in Hamlet's case. He enhanced his loyalty, by providing him with the proof that he needed so that he could find his Uncle guilty of murder. Hamlet felt he could not let his father down, especially since he had come back to appear to him in hopes that he would make justice and not allow his Uncle to get away with what he did. After the several appearances which the ghost made to Hamlet he was convinced that he was going to maintain justice and not betray his father as his mother had. It could very well be argued that if he had not seen the ghost Hamlet may have just remained angry and kept everything bottled up inside. I believe it was because of this appearance that he was given the extra push he needed to have justice served.