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Why Is Laertes Important In Hamlet

637 Words3 Pages

Laertes is a young Danish lord who is the son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia. His name is taken from the father of Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. He is a scholar who spends a lot of time studying in France. He is a loving brother who worries dearly for his sisters wellbeing as shown in act 1 during his conversation with Ophelia regarding her relationship with Hamlet. He is also a very loyal son to his father and it is shown through his actions in attempts to avenge his father's death. He could be described as irrational and hot tempered in his quest to avenge his father. Laertes is a minor character who ends up playing a major role. Laertes’ significance in the play is to serve as an obstacle for Hamlet in his quest to enact revenge …show more content…

He says, “ O thou vile king, give me my father! That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard, Cries “cuckold” to my father, brands the harlot even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow of my true mother.” This furious and erratic behavior contradicts the way he is introduced in his first appearance and is important because it shows how Laertes is capable of murdering someone he has known his whole life. In his first scene, Laertes approaches his concern about Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet in a calm manner. However, from his actions later on in Act 4 scene 5 it is obvious that his head did not keep its cool like it had before. If Laertes were to have matched the same energy presented in act 4 with his energy in act 1, he would have confronted Hamlet with his concern angrily in person. Another observable change is in the last scene of the play when Laertes is in on the floor saying his last words on his dying breath. He chooses, in the end, to forgive Hamlet for his father’s murder and for his own murder as well. This change of heart seems abnormal when taking into account the hate Laertes must have had for Hamlet to be willing to kill him. This change is important because it reveals a lot about what kind of person Laertes is and a little about everyone's feelings towards Hamlet because to forgive

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