Laertes
What happens to Laertes in Hamlet?
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Laertes comes from his school in France to be present for Claudius’s coronation.
Laertes receives permission from both Claudius and Polonius to return to France .
Before returning to France , Laertes bid’s his sister Ophelia farewell. He warns her to be
cautious about her love for Hamlet, because he thinks that Hamlet is too far above her to truly
love her. In return, Ophelia advises Laertes to take care of himself and not to get into any
trouble.
Then Laertes says goodbye to his father, Polonius. He receives much advice on how to behave in
France . Polonius advises Laertes to: not speak his thoughts, not to act impulsively, treat others
with respect, to keep old friends and to be cautious about new ones, don’t argue but stand up
if he needs to, to listen more than to talk, to dress wealthy but not showy, to not lend or borrow
money, and to be true to himself.
After Laertes arrives in France , Polonius sends Reynaldo with some letters for Laertes. Polonius
also orders Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, and make sure he is doing alright. He does this by
explaining to Reynaldo that he can find out all sorts of information by asking questions.
The next time we hear from Laertes is after Polonius’s death. Laertes is very upset and brings
a group of rebels with him. He tries to start a revolution, but is stopped when he confronts
Claudius and Claudius tells Laertes that it was Hamlet who killed Polonius.
Then Claudius uses Laertes’s grief and anger to carry out his own plan to kill Hamlet. He
convinces Laertes that killing Hamlet would be the right thing to do, since he had killed Polonius.
Laertes and Claudius then make a plan of revenge. They even go as far to make a backup plan in
case the original plan does not work.
Then during the duel between Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet is cut, but they keep fencing and
somehow switch foils.
Then, Gertrude makes a toast to Hamlet, and drinks out of the poisoned cup, even though
Claudius warns her not to.
Laertes is wounded, and realizes that his own trick had backfired. Gertrude lay’s dying on the
floor, and Hamlet will soon die too.
Laertes tells everyone what happened, and how it was all Claudius’s doing. Then Laertes dies.
Role of Laertes:
Laertes is the brother of Ophelia, and the son of Polonius. He is a student in
France , and is very strong willed and passionate about the things he cares about. He
often makes impulsive decisions. In the play Hamlet Laertes is basically used by
Claudius to get to Hamlet. Claudius, knowing that Laertes is quick to react and won’t
think about the consequences, convinced Laertes that in order to gain his honor back he
needed to kill Hamlet. Laertes lets his emotion get to him, and instead of thinking
rationally, he carries out the plan. Laertes also has the role of warning Ophelia about
Hamlet. He cares about his sister and doesn’t want to see her hurt, so he tells her to
be very cautious about who she loves and to stay away from Hamlet.
Characteristics:
1.
Strong-willed:
Laertes is strong willed in that once a plan is set, he does not have any second
thoughts or goes back on his word.
“I will do’t:
and, for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch’d withal: I’ll tough my point
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, lines 140-148
This quote is from when Claudius describes his plan to Laertes that he must fight
Hamlet with a foil without a button covering the end, and Laertes eagerly agrees
to the plan.
2.
Caring:
He cares about his family so much that he is willing to kill Hamlet for killing his
father, and making his sister go crazy.
“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.” –Laertes, act 4,
scene 7, lines 26-30
This quote by Laertes shows how much Laertes cares about his family. He is
saying that his father has died and his sister is in horrible condition, so he will
need to get the honor back by getting revenge.
3.
Devoted:
Laertes is very devoted to Claudius, he is willing to do anything Claudius says to
carry out the revenge plan.
“My lord, I will be ruled
The rather if you could devise it so
That I might be the organ.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, lines 67-69
In this quote Laertes is saying he will do anything Claudius wants him to do, as
long as it results in him assisting Claudius with Hamlets death.
4.
Vengeful:
Laertes is vengeful in that he is seeking revenge against Hamlet. He is so
determined to get his revenge he will do anything.
I’m lost in it, my lord. But let him come.
It warms the very sickness in my heart
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,
“Thus diddest thou.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, page 3, lines 52-55
In this passage Laertes is describing how content he will be when he gets the
change to get his revenge on Hamlet and tell him that he committed the crime.
5.
Loves Ophelia:
Laertes shows how much he loves Ophelia by jumping into her grave to hold her
again after she dies.
“Oh, treble woe
Fall ten times treble on that cursèd head,
Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
Deprived thee of! Hold off the earth awhile
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.― (leaps into the grave)
– Laertes, act 5, scene 1, lines 54-57
This passage is Laertes feeling distraught, and jumps to Ophelia’s body to
hold her once more. He obviously loves her so much he cannot let her go, and
couldn’t hold back from a last touch.
6.
Proud:
Laertes is a very proud character in the way that he holds his honor high. He will
do anything to save his reputation and cares a lot about what people think of him.
“I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive in this case should stir me most
To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement
Till by some elder masters, of known honor,
I have a voice and precedent of peace
To keep my name ungored. But till that time
I do receive your offered love like love
And will not wrong it.” – Laertes, act 5, scene 2, lines 242-250
This quote is Laertes talking about how important his honor is and how he cannot
let his reputation be wounded.
7.
Has a lot to live up to:
Polonius has high expectations for Laertes, so Laertes feels pressured to do the
right thing.
“Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail
And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee.― Polonius- act 1,
scene 3, lines 55-57
This quote by Polonius shows that Polonius wants the best for his son, and wants
his son to be the best.
8.
Brave:
Laertes is brave in that he stands up for what he believes in and he doesn’t
back down.
“Save yourself, my lord
the ocean, overpeering of his list,
eats not the flats with more impetuous haste
than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord;
And, as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word,
They cry ‘Choose we: Laertes shall be king:’
Caps, hands, and toungues, applaud it to the clouds:
‘Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!’” – Gentleman, act 4,
scene 5, lines 101-111
This quote by a gentleman is describing the rebellion Laertes is leading, in effort
to get Claudius off the throne. It demonstrates how brave he is by saying how
many men there are, and using imagery that seems violent.
9.
Proactive:
Laertes is more proactive than Hamlet in taking revenge. Laertes jumps to the
plan, while Hamlet only gets around to killing Claudius in the very end, after he
realizes he is going to die soon.
“It well appears. But tell me
Why you proceeded not against these feats,
So criminal and so capital in nature,
As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,
You mainly were stirred up.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, lines 6-9
In this passage, Laertes is asking Claudius why he didn’t just kill Hamlet
when he had the chance. This shows that Laertes would take the first chance he
got to kill Hamlet.
10. Truthful:
Laertes tells Ophelia that Hamlet cannot choose who he will marry, and therefore
she must stop seeing him.
“Think it no more.
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will, but you must fear.
His greatness weighed, his will is not his own,
For he himself is subject to his birth.
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
The safety and health of this whole state.
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place
May give his saying deed, which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmastered importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia. Fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself ’scapes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed.
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth,
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary, then. Best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.” – Laertes, act 1, scene
3, lines 10-44
In this quote Laertes is explaining to Ophelia that Hamlets’ words cannot be
trusted, and that she shouldn’t continue seeing him because she could get hurt.
Even though Hamlet might love her now, Laertes is explaining that he is growing
up and that his responsibilities will grow with him. Hamlet will become King and
will have responsibility to the kingdom, not his love for Ophelia.
Significant Changes
First, Laertes is a good and civil person. He obeys Claudius and respects
him. But when he hears that Polonius has been killed, he immediately has a
grudge against him and storms off to the palace to confront Claudius. His
confrontation involves many questions, and is very rude and disrespectful. He
changed in that he used to be very rational, to being driven by anger and desire for
revenge.
“My dread lord, 
Your leave and favor to return to France ,
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
To show my duty in your coronation,
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.” – Laertes, act 1,
scene 2, lines 50-56
This is a quote of Laertes asking for Claudius’s permission to return to
France . It shows that Laertes has respect for Claudius and wants to obey him.
“You must save yourself, my lord. The young Laertes, like the ocean
when it floods the shore and devours the lowlands, is leading a rebellion
against your government. The crowd calls him “lord― and shouts,
“We want Laertes to be king!” It’s as if they were starting the
world from scratch right now, throwing out the traditions and ancient
customs that are the support of every word we utter. They throw their caps
in the air and yell, “Laertes will be king! Laertes king!”” –
Messenger, act 4, scene 5, lines 71-82
From: Amelia King <ameliabking@yahoo.com>
To: amelia king <ameliabking@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sun, December 12, 2010 10:46:22 PM
Subject: brit lit I"M GOING TO KILL THIEDE! >=))))))))))
Laertes
What happens to Laertes in Hamlet?




Laertes comes from his school in France to be present for Claudius’s
coronation.
Laertes receives permission from both Claudius and Polonius to return to France .
Before returning to France , Laertes bid’s his sister Ophelia farewell. He
warns her to be cautious about her love for Hamlet, because he thinks that Hamlet
is too far above her to truly love her. In return, Ophelia advises Laertes to take
care of himself and not to get into any trouble.
Then Laertes says goodbye to his father, Polonius. He receives much advice on
how to behave in France . Polonius advises Laertes to: not speak his thoughts, not








to act impulsively, treat others with respect, to keep old friends and to be cautious
about new ones, don’t argue but stand up if he needs to, to listen more than to
talk, to dress wealthy but not showy, to not lend or borrow money, and to be true
to himself.
After Laertes arrives in France , Polonius sends Reynaldo with some letters for
Laertes. Polonius also orders Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, and make sure he is
doing alright. He does this by explaining to Reynaldo that he can find out all sorts
of information by asking questions.
The next time we hear from Laertes is after Polonius’s death. Laertes is very
upset and brings a group of rebels with him. He tries to start a revolution, but is
stopped when he confronts Claudius and Claudius tells Laertes that it was Hamlet
who killed Polonius.
Then Claudius uses Laertes’s grief and anger to carry out his own plan to kill
Hamlet. He convinces Laertes that killing Hamlet would be the right thing to do,
since he had killed Polonius.
Laertes and Claudius then make a plan of revenge. They even go as far to make a
backup plan in case the original plan does not work.
Then during the duel between Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet is cut, but they keep
fencing and somehow switch foils.
Then, Gertrude makes a toast to Hamlet, and drinks out of the poisoned cup, even
though Claudius warns her not to.
Laertes is wounded, and realizes that his own trick had backfired. Gertrude
lay’s dying on the floor, and Hamlet will soon die too.
Laertes tells everyone what happened, and how it was all Claudius’s doing.
Then Laertes dies.
Role of Laertes:
Laertes is the brother of Ophelia, and the son of Polonius. He is a student in
France , and is very strong willed and passionate about the things he cares about. He
often makes impulsive decisions. In the play Hamlet Laertes is basically used by
Claudius to get to Hamlet. Claudius, knowing that Laertes is quick to react and won’t
think about the consequences, convinced Laertes that in order to gain his honor back he
needed to kill Hamlet. Laertes lets his emotion get to him, and instead of thinking
rationally, he carries out the plan. Laertes also has the role of warning Ophelia about
Hamlet. He cares about his sister and doesn’t want to see her hurt, so he tells her to
be very cautious about who she loves and to stay away from Hamlet.
Characteristics:
1. Strong-willed:
Laertes is strong willed in that once a plan is set, he does not have any second
thoughts or goes back on his word.
“I will do’t:
and, for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch’d withal: I’ll tough my point
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, lines 140-148
This quote is from when Claudius describes his plan to Laertes that he must fight
Hamlet with a foil without a button covering the end, and Laertes eagerly agrees
to the plan.
2. Caring:
He cares about his family so much that he is willing to kill Hamlet for killing his
father, and making his sister go crazy.
“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.” –Laertes, act 4,
scene 7, page 2, lines 25-29
This quote by Laertes shows how much Laertes cares about his family. He is
saying that his father has died and his sister is in horrible condition, so he will
need to get the honor back by getting revenge.
3. Devoted:
Laertes is very devoted to Claudius, he is willing to do anything Claudius says to
carry out the revenge plan.
“My lord, I will be ruled
The rather if you could devise it so
That I might be the organ.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, page 3, lines 6769
In this quote Laertes is saying he will do anything Claudius wants him to do, as
long as it results in him assisting Claudius with Hamlets death.
4. Vengeful:
Laertes is vengeful in that he is seeking revenge against Hamlet. He is so
determined to get his revenge he will do anything.
I’m lost in it, my lord. But let him come.
It warms the very sickness in my heart
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,
“Thus diddest thou.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, page 3, lines 52-55
In this passage Laertes is describing how content he will be when he gets the
change to get his revenge on Hamlet and tell him that he committed the crime.
5. Loves Ophelia:
Laertes shows how much he loves Ophelia by jumping into her grave to hold her
again after she dies.
“Oh, treble woe
Fall ten times treble on that cursèd head,
Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
Deprived thee of! Hold off the earth awhile
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.― (leaps into the grave)
– Laertes, act 5, scene 1, page 11, lines 246-254
This passage is Laertes feeling distraught, and jumps to Ophelia’s body to
hold her once more. He obviously loves her so much he cannot let her go, and
couldn’t hold back from a last touch.
6. Proud:
I am satisfied in nature,
“Whose motive in this case should stir me most
To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement
Till by some elder masters, of known honor,
I have a voice and precedent of peace
To keep my name ungored. But till that time
I do receive your offered love like love
And will not wrong it.” – Laertes, act 5, scene 2, page 11, lines 242250
This quote is Laertes talking about how important his honor is and how he cannot
let his reputation be wounded.
7. Laertes has a lot to live up to:
Polonius has high expectations for Laertes, so Laertes feels pressured to do the
right thing.
“Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail
And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee.― Polonius- act 1,
scene 3, lines 55-58
This quote by Polonius shows that Polonius wants the best for his son, and wants
his son to be the best.
8. Brave:
Laertes is brave in that he stands up for what he believes in and he doesn’t
back down.
“Save yourself, my lord
the ocean, overpeering of his list,
eats not the flats with more impetuous haste
than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord;
And, as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word,
They cry ‘Choose we: Laertes shall be king:’
Caps, hands, and toungues, applaud it to the clouds:
‘Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!’” – Gentleman, act 4,
scene 5, lines 101-111
This quote by a gentleman is describing the rebellion Laertes is leading, in effort
to get Claudius off the throne. It demonstrates how brave he is by saying how
many men there are, and using imagery that seems violent.
9. Proactive:
Laertes is more proactive than Hamlet in taking revenge. Laertes jumps to the
plan, while Hamlet only gets around to killing Claudius in the very end, after he
realizes he is going to die soon.
“It well appears. But tell me
Why you proceeded not against these feats,
So criminal and so capital in nature,
As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,
You mainly were stirred up.” – Laertes, act 4, scene 7, lines 6-10
In this passage, Laertes is asking Claudius why he didn’t just kill Hamlet
when he had the chance. This shows that Laertes would take the first chance he got to kill
Hamlet.
10. Truthful:
Laertes tells Ophelia that Hamlet cannot choose who he will marry, and therefore
she must stop seeing him.
“Think it no more.
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will, but you must fear.
His greatness weighed, his will is not his own,
For he himself is subject to his birth.
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
The safety and health of this whole state.
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place
May give his saying deed, which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmastered importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia. Fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself ’scapes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed.
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth,
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary, then. Best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.” – Laertes, act 1, scene
3, lines 10-44
In this quote Laertes is explaining to Ophelia that Hamlets’ words cannot be
trusted, and that she shouldn’t continue seeing him because she could get hurt.
Even though Hamlet might love her now, Laertes is explaining that he is growing
up and that his responsibilities will grow with him. Hamlet will become King and
will have responsibility to the kingdom, not his love for Ophelia.
Significant Changes
First, Laertes is a good and civil person. He obeys Claudius and respects
him. But when he hears that Polonius has been killed, he immediately has a
grudge against him and storms off to the palace to confront Claudius. His
confrontation involves many questions, and is very rude and disrespectful. He
changed in that he used to be very rational, to being driven by anger and desire for
revenge.
“Beginning: My dread lord, 
Your leave and favor to return to France ,
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
To show my duty in your coronation,
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.” – Laertes, act 1,
scene 2, lines 53-56
This is a quote of Laertes asking for Claudius’s permission to return to France
. It shows that Laertes has respect for Claudius and wants to obey him.
“You must save yourself, my lord. The young Laertes, like the ocean
when it floods the shore and devours the lowlands, is leading a rebellion
against your government. The crowd calls him “lord― and shouts,
“We want Laertes to be king!” It’s as if they were starting the
world from scratch right now, throwing out the traditions and ancient
customs that are the support of every word we utter. They throw their caps
in the air and yell, “Laertes will be king! Laertes king!”” –
Messenger, act 4, scene 5, lines 71-82
In this quote, the messenger is warning the king and queen to beware of Laertes.
He is telling them how Laertes is leading a rebellion because he is so upset that
his father had been killed, and Laertes thinks Claudius is responsible for his death.
This type of behavior is not respectful at all, and is only caused by the anger that
drove him to do such irrational acts.