Laertes: The Revenge Is Mighty But Deadly
Laertes is an interesting character within Hamlet because he suffers through a great deal of loss. In Hamlet it is indeed evident that he is willing to do anything to protect his family. That is the reason for why Laertes decided to act vengeful within the majority of the play. The author shows an antipathetic tone about revenge. The character that portrays this is Laertes. The literary elements that Shakespeare uses are diction, metaphors, and tragedy. These literary elements are chosen by Shakespeare to show the effect as to what stakes Laertes is willing to go for everyone.
Therefore, the first literary element from Hamlet is diction. Diction is used within the text that states:
For Hamlet, and
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the trifling of his favor, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent,sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute, No more.(Shakespeare 1.3.6-11) This text gives the indication that Laertes is the protective brother and only wants the best for Ophelia.
He wants her to know that Hamlet’s affection towards her will only be temporary. He suspects that Hamlet is only playing with her, and that he is not being serious with the relationship as Ophelia is. Laertes being the older brother, he knows what type of boundaries needed to be set and that he does not want his sister to get hurt. He is giving her the brotherly advice, and that needed to be for the benefit of Ophelia.The text states:
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
And, in the morn and liquid of dew youth,
Contagious blastments are most
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imminent. Be wary, then; best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.(Shakespeare 1.3.43-48) In the text there is a point at which Laertes is still trying to convince his sister to be careful with Hamlet.
The text also means that Laertes wants his sister Ophelia to know that Hamlet could destroy her sense of purity and while in her youth she needs to be cautious. He wants her to keep her purity, and not have a intimate relationship with him. He also feels that it’s the only thing that Hamlet is after. The next piece of text states “A document in madness: thoughts and re-/membrance fitted.”(Shakespeare 4.5.202-03). Obviously by now Laertes has discovered that his own sister has gone mad. He feels terrible about her health state. He feels an overwhelm and shock over Ophelia’s craziness. She has became insane because Hamlet put her through a lot and she took away her own sanity. At this point Laertes still doesn’t blame anyone for the insanity of Ophelia. He feels the deep struggle because he knows that his sister is hurting, and that is distressful because he does not want to see his sister in the mentally unstable form that she is
in. Likewise, the second literary device that is employed by Hamlet is Metaphors. The text states “How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with./To hell, allegiance!Vows, to the blackest devil!”(4.5.148-49).The metaphor that is employed shows that Laertes wants to really find out who killed his father. This is obviously occurring during this portion of the act where Laertes is discussing in frustration with the King. Laertes is in great anger and upsetness as any individual would be during any news that is as upsetting as that. Laertes is wanting to know who would do such a terrible thing to his father. The King was not just going to tell him so easily because Hamlet killed Polonius, and that would be difficult for him to explain with such ease. The King doesn’t tell him during this act because it occurs between scenes 5 and 7, in act 5. The King tells Laertes off scene that the person who killed Polonius, his father was Hamlet. The text states “It shall as level to your judgement ‘pear /As day does to your eye.”(4.5.174-75). This is the last portion of the conversation that is still occurring between Laertes and King Claudius. This is important in particular because Laertes is trying to figure out what to do with the enemy, with help from no other than Claudius he is questioned. Claudius has him question himself and reflect on what he has to do to get back at the enemy that killed his father. Claudius is a terrible choice to give advice to Laertes, because he is an antagonist in the story line, so there is nothing that Claudius would be able to do, to help the situation. The next evidence states: And so have I a noble father lost, A sister driven into desp’rate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age For her perfections. But my revenge will come.(4.7.27-31) This textual metaphor shows that Laertes comes to terms that he has lost both his sister Ophelia to craziness, and his father Polonius. That also means that now that he is aware that Hamlet has killed his father, and Ophelia was said to have committed suicide in act 4 scene 7. He has blamed Hamlet to the deaths of both of his family members. His revenge and anger is now projected towards Hamlet. This also means that he is willing to do anything for his family. He wants to give the vengeance necessary to help his deal with his loss and all of the emotions he is having to deal with. Consequently, the next literary element employed through Hamlet is tragedy. This element is most prominent throughout the last two acts of Hamlet, which are acts 4 and 5. The quote states “And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword./Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,”(4.7.160,63). Laertes has already chosen his deadly weapon in which he will try to do a joust with his sword towards Hamlet. He wants to avenge his father and sister’s death. That will be a huge risk that he has just decided to take upon himself. He also wants to feel in control of the situation by the choice of his weapon as a sword. That will be a joust that could result in death as inferred from the quote. The person that he is planning all of this is the King, and that does not appear like such a good choice based on the antagonistic feel of the character King Claudius. The king also gives a specific suggestion if his sword won’t work “ A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,/If he by chance escape your venomed stuck,”(4.7.183-84). Laertes and the King share a commonality, which is that they both want to get back at Hamlet, and I feel that is why Claudius is helping Laertes. Laertes is willing to make sure Hamlet does not live, and that is a immense form of revenge, because he now has two ways of getting revenge upon him. The next textual evidence is “Whose motive in case should stir me most/To my revenge; but in my terms of honor” (5.2.260-61). This text shows that they agreed to joust each other, and that Laertes is willing to actually kill someone else in vengeance of his father and sister. He also has an honor that he has to prove, because he feels that he is doing it to symbolize that he is to do the sword fight with the intention of making his family that has died proud for what he is standing up for. They are the effect that changed this last scene in the play dramatically. This joust is typical for this era in time because that is normally how people from that time would solve a type of dispute. The last piece of evidence states “Why as woodcock to mine own springe, Osric./I am justly killed with mine own treachery.”(5.2.336-37). The plan that Laertes had failed because Hamlet did not drink the poison and he also did not get wounded from the sword fight, but Laertes did in act 5 scene 2. That is a wrong turnout for revenge, and it was very risky. The next quote states “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet./Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,”(5.2.361-62). Laertes has now acknowledged that Hamlet Did not commit the tragedy on purpose, and then he asks for forgiveness before he dies. That is the worst revenge, with a terrible outcome, and it could have all been avoided if they just communicated. Claudius is the primary factor as to why this sword fight occurred, and Laertes does discover that shortly before he dies. Claudius was the person that actually did the wrong thing, by lying to Laertes for the cause of death of his father. In summation, Laertes had to overcome his family member’s deaths, by seeking revenge out for the person who caused his anguish and pain. This character was involved in a series of tragic events that occurred as the storyline of Hamlet progressed. The truth came out to light as Laertes seeked revenge, because he discovered that his anger was not correct upon the circumstances that Hamlet did not kill his father on purpose, but as an accident.
A major difference between Laertes and Hamlet is that Laertes didn't procrastinate in his attempt at revenge. He went right to it with the encouragement of Claudius. His hastiness is what gets him killed in the end. Because Laertes doesn't think long about getting his revenge gives the reader reason to compare Laertes to and think about Hamlets' struggle to decide weather [H-50] revenge is the right thing to do. [SS -1] He contemplates through the whole play on weather [H-50] to kill Claudius or not, leaving the reader with the sense that Hamlet is very careful when making decisions. [Doesn't this point deserve more discussion?
One of the foils important to the play is Laertes. Although Laertes does not appear often in the play, he brings much to the plot and to Hamlet's character. These two are similar in many ways. They both seem to be about the same age, are well educated, and gentleman. One main thing that they have in common is they both are seeking revenge for their father's deaths. Both of their fathers were unnecessarily killed. Hamlet's father was killed by his father's brother for the crown and his wife, and Hamlet killed Laertes' father over mistaken identity. It was the revenge of these two that made up the plot of the story. Because of Laertes, the two could finally fulfill their revenge in the battle at the end that killed both Hamlet and the new king. If Laertes had not challenged Hamlet, the king would have died by some other way; however, the king died by poisoning just as he had killed his brother.
Throughout the play, Laertes is as an extremely caring member of his family. His strong emotions for family have an opposing side to it, a shadow that has repressed feelings of anger which cause him to add to the disaster in Denmark. An example that depicts this is when Laertes attempts to request more rites for Ophelia’s funeral. After he is denied, he starts a commotion by calling the priest “churlish”, explaining that Ophelia will be “A ministering angel” while the priest will “liest howling”(5.1.217-218). His compliments to Ophelia shows how much he loved her, while his nasty insults to the priest show his repressed rage. While this is occuring, Hamlet hears Laertes’s mention of Ophelia during the commotion and throws himself into a brawl with Laertes. It is the conflict built up from there that causes Claudius to target Laertes as his next weapon to kill Hamlet with. Laertes’s deep anger for Hamlet makes himself the best candidate for Claudius’s manipulation. Once Laertes’s sides with Claudius, he shows his dark intent by requesting Claudius to not “o'errule me to a peace”(4.7.58). On the day of the duel, Laertes undergoes a confrontation of his shadow while he clashes with Hamlet. His realization of his shadow comes too late into the duel when both Hamlet and Laertes are struck by poison, as this happens he declares that he is “ justly killed with mine own treachery (5.2.337).” In the moments that he is still alive, he dismisses his shadow and ends the circle of murder by announcing the true nature of Claudius. Laertes’s repressed anger guides the play into the duel where many deaths occur including Hamlet’s.
At the beginning of the play, Laertes spoke to his sweet, loving sister Ophelia about his departure of Denmark to go to England and also his concerns of she and Hamlet’s relationship. He warned her of what he thought Hamlet's true intentions were.
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Shakespeare has made them similar in many aspects to provide a greater base for comparison when avenging their respective father's deaths. Hamlet and Laertes love Ophelia. Hamlet wishes Ophelia to be his wife, Laertes loves Ophelia as a sister. Hamlet is a scholar at Wittenberg, and Laertes at France. Both are admired for their swordsmenship. Both men loved and respected their fathers, and display deviousness when plotting to avenge their father's deaths.
Basically Hamlet's character is going through a tough time, he’s upset, disgusted, depressed, moody, and also indecisive.Laertes foils Hamlet’s character. He is the son of Polonius and the brother to Ophelia. He is described as a passionate and a quick of action person. The most important thing about him is that he is a doer not a thinker. Being quick on his feet to problems is what got him killed. Laertes warns his loving sister about Hamlet but also boys in general “ My bags are already on board. Farewell, my sister. Please write often. As for Hamlet, and his attentions to you, Do not take them to seriously. They are like violets in the spring, Fast-blooming and sweet, but not long-lasting” ( Act I, Scene 3). The beginning of the play he leaves Denmark and goes to France. Due to the killing of Ophelia and Polonius he returns back and seeks revenge. Claudius and Laertes team up and plot to kill Hamlet.Hamlet and Laertes has a lot of similarities and differences. They are different because Hamlet gets forced to be sent away while Laertes wanted to get sent away. Hamlet is more of a responsible person while Laertes is more bold and reckless. Laertes provide contrast to Hamlet's character. They are similar in multiple ways starting with the love they had for
As the play opened, Hamlet and Ophelia appeared as lovers experiencing a time of turbulence. Hamlet had just returned home from his schooling in Saxony to find that his mother had quickly remarried her dead husband's brother, and this gravely upset him. Hamlet was sincerely devoted to the idea of bloodline loyalty and sought revenge upon learning that Claudius had killed his father. Ophelia, though it seems her relationship with Hamlet is in either the developmental stage or the finalizing stage, became the prime choice as a lure for Hamlet. Laertes inadvertently opened Ophelia up to this role when he spoke with Ophelia about Hamlet before leaving for France. He allowed Polonius to find out about Hamlet's courtship of Ophelia, which led to Polonius' misguided attempts at taking care of Ophelia and obeying the king's command to find the root of Hamlet's problems. Ophelia, placed in the middle against her wishes, obeyed her father and brother's commands with little disagreement. The only time she argued was when Laertes advised her against making decisions incompatible with the expectations of Elizabethan women. Ophelia tells him, in her boldest lines of the play:
Manning, John. "Symbola and Emblemata in Hamlet." New Essays on Hamlet. Ed. Mark Thornton Burnett and John Manning. New York: AMS Press, 1994. 11-18.
Hamlet and Laertes share a different but deep love and concern for Ophelia. Laertes advises her to retain from seeing and being involved with Hamlet because of his social status. He didn’t want her to get her heart broken by Hamlet, since he believed that his marriage would be arranged to someone of his social status, and that he would only use and hurt Ophelia. Hamlet on the other hand, was madly in love with Ophelia but it languishes after she rejects him. Ophelia’s death caused distress in both Hamlet and Laertes and it also made Laertes more hostile towards Hamlet.
Laertes, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He was all action and no talk. A very headstrong character, he was rash and let his emotions make his decisions for him. an example of this is when he finds out about his father's death, he immediately assumes it was Claudius and enters the castle by force, fully intending on killing him. This is what Hamlet needs to be like, but only in moderation. Sometimes, when the time calls for it, you must act on instinct, without having to think it through for a couple of days. Hamlet didn't want to be brash and end up getting killed like Laertes did, but then again, Laertes did avenge his father's death a lot faster than Hamlet did. And in spite of all the thinking and planning, Hamlet still ended up the same way that Laertes did.
Laertes is looking to seek revenge on Hamlet for killing his father and eventually his sister later in the play. "I dare damnation. To this point I stand, that both the worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes, only I 'll be reveng 'd Most throughly for my father." (4.5.132-135). Laertes is very different in the way he is going about seeking revenge, he is willing to kill any and everybody with no hesitation to revenge his father’s death unlike Hamlet, who is contemplating throughout the play on if he should or shouldn’t kill the necessary people in order to seek revenge.
2. Hamlets character development in this passage occurred because he went from a respected, well-liked price of Denmark to “mad”, and all of Denmark has been notified of his madness. Even though he is pretending to be mad everyone believes that he truly is mad. Also a gravedigger foolishly points out Hamlets madness while talking to Hamlet. Laertes has been calm throughout this whole play up untill now, but during Ophelia's funeral everyone can clearly see his decent into madness. Also Laertes has taken late Polonius' spot as the King's confidant. Which again foreshadows the death of Hamlet I a duel.
"Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. Shakespeare has made them similar in many aspects to provide a greater base for comparison when avenging their respective fathers' deaths" (Nardo, 90). Both Hamlet and Laertes love Ophelia in different ways. Hamlet wishes Ophelia to become his wife, Laertes loves Ophelia as a sister. Hamlet is a scholar at Wittenberg; Laertes is also a scholar at France. Both were brought up under this royal family of Denmark. And both are admired for their swordsmenship. But most important of all, both of them loved and respected their fathers greatly, and showed great devotion when plotting to avenge their fathers' deaths.
Laertes is greatly influenced by revenge for his actions especially when he is seeking revenge for his sister. He shows his brotherly love for Ophelia when he says “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor,/Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,/A violet in the youth of primy nature,/Forward, not permanent, sweet, not
”(153) It becomes clear that the parallels presented throughout the play are there to further illuminate the flaws of Hamlet’s character. Laertes is a hot-headed man looking for revenge. His father was killed by Hamlet and his sister was driven insane due to the series of events that took place because of Hamlet. Like Hamlet, Laertes wants to avenge his father by killing the man who killed Polonius.