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Why Is Laertes Important In Hamlet

891 Words4 Pages

Laertes shows us that no matter your acts throughout your life, it is what you do at the end that matters the most and what you will be remembered for. Laertes is the son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. We meet him in Act One, Scene 3 when he is bidding farewell to Ophelia, warning her to beware of Hamlet and to not get close to him, because “Perhaps [Hamlet] loves you now... but you must fear, / His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;/ For he himself is subject to his birth” and does not get to choose his wife (1.3, line 17-21). We see here that he cares about his family and doesn’t mind being upfront with his opinions. He then leaves for France, taking him out of the plot until he returns, steaming in Act 4 after hearing the news of his dead father, Polonius. Laertes blames King Claudius for what happened because everything that was alright when he departed to France has now turned to chaos- with his father dead and sister appearing insane, delusional, and soon to be dead. Claudius has pushed both matters aside giving no respect to either. Claudius cleverly deflects the blame from …show more content…

Since Laertes is their family and cares for them, their loss’ emotional spiral shoots him into a rage and call for revenge; without his connection, there could have been no significant meaning or purpose for their deaths, but with it launches to plot forward. Furthermore, Claudius would have no face cover for the murder of Hamlet. Due to Laertes distress, he was an easy target for persuasion, making the perfect for Claudius’ deceit. When the plan unfolded Laertes was the one who made the fatal cut that eventually killed Hamlet, but then reveals the conspiracy when he himself is poisoned, saying: “Hamlet, thou art slain/… The foul practice/ Hath turn'd itself on me…/ Thy mother's poison'd./ I can no more. The King, the King's to blame” (5.2, line 344-351) leading Hamlet to slay his

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He knows his father was killed and he will get his revenge no matter what it takes without even having to think about it. He is so impulsive he rushes in after Claudius without having any proof or idea that Claudius is actually the man that killed his father. Shakespeare writes in 4.5.101-102: “...Laertes, in a riotous head, O’erbears your officers…”. Laertes then goes on to tell the king in 4.5.115: “O thou vile King, Give me my father…”. It does not matter to him, what he has to do, he will follow his impulses to get what he wants.

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He lets the opportunity pass to wait for one to murder him, and banish Claudius to hell. On the contrary when Claudius questions how faithful Laertes is to his father, he admits that he would face any kind of censure to be satisfied by killing Hamlet, “To cut his throat i' the church” (4.7.98). When Laertes claims he would kill Hamlet in a church, by doing so he is willing to defy the sanctity of the church to consider such an act. Laertes' response also speaks to the diabolically effective job Claudius has done to stir Laertes' need for vengeance, that he would kill Hamlet in a holy place. Additionally, both Hamlet and Laertes hold a great deal of passion within one another.

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