Humans are very complex beings that have many characteristics. In the play
Hamlet, Laertes and Hamlet exemplify many qualities, some alike, some different.
Hamlet and Laertes are one in the same. By examining the differences of characters,
Laertes and Hamlet it will be proven that their similarities outweigh their differences.
Every person was created as an individual and each has unique qualities that make
them stand apart from another. Laertes was Hamlet’s polar opposite in their times of
grief. Hamlet was weakened by the death of his father and Ophelia while Laertes was
fuelled. Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, the king’s brother, tried to convince Hamlet that
grieving for his father’s death was an unmanly trait and that the death of a father is
nothing uncommon. “But you must know your father lost a father, that father lost, lost his
and this survivor bound in filial obligation for some term to do some obsequious sorrow;
but to persevere in obstinate condolment is a course of impious stubbornness, ‘tis
unmanly grief.”(Act I/Scene 2/Lines 89-94)Claudius was against Hamlet’s process of
mourning, death is a part of nature and he felt that Hamlet should not let the death of his
father impact his entire life. If he was a true man, he would not show his emotions.
Claudius understood that there should be a certain amount of time allotted for grieving,
but that it should not completely consume one’s thoughts and emotions. In the play,
Hamlet and Laertes are extremely opposite in the way they act on their emotions. Hamlet
contemplates every emotion he possesses and rarely acts on his basic instincts, unlike
Laertes. “To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and
by opposing, end them.”(Act III/Scene 1/Lines 56-60)Laertes does not over think his
actions; his grief motivates him to avenge the deaths of his family. Hamlet dealt with his
grief in an opposite manner. He kept his emotions internal and did not commit any acts
until he had driven himself to the brink of insanity. Hamlet and Laertes were each
touched by death, but Laertes thrived with revenge while Hamlet was shattered by the
tragedy.
Though there are some differences between Hamlet and Laertes, they are alike
in many ways; such as seeking revenge after the death of their family members and
each young man meets their demise due to King Claudius’ treachery. Hamlet learns that
his father, King Hamlet, had been murdered by his uncle, Claudius, for the throne and
for the Queen. Hamlet lost respect for his mother after she wed Claudius, the late King
Hamlet’s brother, so suddenly after her husband’s death. “ My tables, - meet it is I set it
down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain, At least I am sure it may be so in
Denmark. So uncle, there you are; now to my word. It is ‘Adieu, adieu! Remember me.’ I
have sworn’t.”(Act I/Scene 5/lines 105-112) This news was not enough for Hamlet to
pick up a sword against Claudius. It was when the ghost of late King Hamlet appeared
before Hamlet’s eyes and revealed Claudius’ evil deeds. Hamlet was convinced and
decided that he would take revenge on Claudius for the killing of his father. Laertes was
not too fond of the idea of his sister, Ophelia, loving Hamlet. He warned his sister about
how loving Hamlet would not be a good idea. “And so have I a noble father lost; A sister
driven into desperate 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.” (Act
IV/Scene 7/ Lines 25-29) When Laertes returns home from his trip to France, he learns
that his father, Polonius, was murdered by Hamlet. Laertes also saw that his sister had
gone mad and died because of the way she had been treated by Hamlet. Laertes
understood that the deaths of his beloved family members were Hamlet’s fault. Just like
Hamlet, Laertes swears to take revenge for the slaying of his family members.
Hamlet and Laertes experience the same death. Laertes was convinced by King
Claudius that his family’s death was Hamlet’s fault and therefore sought out to kill him.
Laertes had anger and revenge on his mind while Hamlet thought it was just for
recreational purposes. Hamlet was not aware that Laertes had plans of revenge. Laertes
and the King poisoned the tip of his sword to assure Hamlet’s death. When Hamlet was
slashed he retaliated strongly and caused Laertes to drop the poisoned sword. As a
result the swords were mixed up and unknowingly Hamlet picked up the poisoned
sword and killed Laertes. “It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; No medicine in the
world can do thee good, In thee there is not half an hour’s life; The treacherous
instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenom’d: the foul practice Hath turn’d itself
on me; lo, here I lie, Never to rise again: thy mother’s poison’d: I can no more: the king,
the king’s to blame” (Act V/Scene 2/ Lines 303-310) Laertes explains to Hamlet as he
was dying that the tip of the sword had been poisoned and that they are both going to
die. He also tells Hamlet that his mother had been poisoned and that the King was the
one to blame for this tragedy. Each young man suffered a death that was caused by the
selfish King Claudius who used Laertes emotions to benefit himself. Hamlet and Laertes
experienced tragedies that led them to each seek revenge.
Hamlet and Laertes are one in the same person because of the similar way their
fathers are sneaky and conniving in showing their emotions to their sons. Polonius who
is the father to Laertes is a sneaky and conniving person considering he sets his servant,
Reynaldo to spy and spread rumors about Laertes.
“…and there put on him What forgeries you please; marry, none so
rank As may dishonor him, take heed of that, But, sir, such
wanton, wild, and usual slips As are companions noted and most
known To youth and liberty.
Reynaldo: As gaming, my lord.
Polonius: Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,
drabbing: you may go so far. (Act II/ Scene I, ll.19-26)
Polonius is tricking his servant into doing the dirty work for him. Polonius is letting a
servant of his go to France, so that he can say any unpleasant things that he pleases about
Laertes, but nothing that would dishonor him. This shows that Polonius is willing to
humiliate his own flesh and blood to get what he wants. Laertes’ father does not want to
portray his real feelings to Laertes, so he chooses a more complicated way to do it.
King Claudius sets Hamlet’s friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet.
“That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time, so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,…” (Act II/ Scene II, ll.13-17). Similarly,
King Claudius treats his stepson the same way as Polonius treats his son. Claudius shows
his conniving side. He is making Hamlet’s friends do the dirty work for him. Even from
the beginning, Claudius seems to be suspicious and cautious of Hamlet. Claudius, who is
the king knows that whatever he says will be obeyed, so he tells Hamlet’s friends to spy
on him and report to him if they find anything. The king does not care how much time
they spend with Hamlet, just as long as they give him useful information. Polonius wants
Laertes to come back home, but does not know how to say it, so he creates falsehoods
about his son. “‘I saw him enter such a house of sale,’ Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.
See you now, Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth…” (Act II/ Scene I, ll. 6062). Polonius has inadequate communication with his son, considering he is going to
great lengths to bring his son back to Denmark, when a few words straight to his son
would have sufficed to bring Laertes back home. Polonius shows his sneaky side when
doing this because his son would never think that his father is capable of this kind of
treachery. The king wants Hamlet to leave, but he does not know how to make him, so
he asks Hamlet’s friends to go back to England and take Hamlet with them. “I like him
not, nor stands it safe with us To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you; And he
to England shall go with you: The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so near us
doth hourly grow Out of his lunacies.” (Act III/ Scene III, ll. 1-7). King Claudius acts in
a similar way to Polonius in showing his emotions to his son. Claudius also has
inadequate communication with his son, Hamlet, considering that he makes an effort to
tell Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to take Hamlet back to England with them instead of
directly speaking to Hamlet and saying that he wants him to leave Denmark. This is why
it could be stated that Hamlet and Laertes are one in the same person.
Hamlet and Laertes are one in the same, although, there are some differences.
When Hamlet loses his father, he is overcome with grief and it gets to the point where he
was unable to properly function, while, the death of Polonius, Laertes' father fuels
Laertes to take revenge. However, Hamlet and Laertes are more similar to each other than
they are different. They each eventually seek revenge for their family. Their deaths are
results of the King Claudius' treachery. They both lost their father figures and had poor
communication with those lost. Hamlet and Laertes are proved to be similar because of
the tragedies that they each experienced. Each young man coped in the same manner and
exemplified similar characteristics in which their likeness is proved.