Laertes
The son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia. Laertes is a student at a university in France and he returns to France at the end of Act 1 with the permission of the new king Claudius.
Before he returns to France he advises his sister to stay away from Hamlet and to be wary of his intentions with her. Also he is approached by his father and is given pieces of advise, which should guide his time at France. |
As soon as Laertes departs for France, Polonius ,in act 2, sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in order to send back information about him to himself. This shows that Polonius may have a sort of mistrust towards his son, and that he does not want him to tarnish his reputation in France.
In Act 4, Laertes returns to Denmark upon receiving news that his father died. He first believes that it was Claudius who murdered his father but is later told by Claudius that it was Hamlet who killed him. He also receives a greater shock when he finds out that his sister has gone mad and because of that she killed herself.
Claudius uses Laertes' anger as part of his plan to kill Hamlet ,in Act 5, by setting up a fencing game between the two.
Laertes' weapon is dipped in poison in order to kill Hamlet upon receiving a cut from the blade.
However, Laertes is show to have wanting to not kill Hamlet, but he still goes on with the fight because he was instigated by Hamlet.
His plan backfires and he ends up getting cut by his own blade, and is now poisoned.
Before he dies, he reveals to Hamlet who poisoned the cup of wine which killed Gertrude, and in this way betrays Claudius
In Act 4, Laertes returns to Denmark upon receiving news that his father died. He first believes that it was Claudius who murdered his father but is later told by Claudius that it was Hamlet who killed him. He also receives a greater shock when he finds out that his sister has gone mad and because of that she killed herself.
Claudius uses Laertes' anger as part of his plan to kill Hamlet ,in Act 5, by setting up a fencing game between the two.
Laertes' weapon is dipped in poison in order to kill Hamlet upon receiving a cut from the blade.
However, Laertes is show to have wanting to not kill Hamlet, but he still goes on with the fight because he was instigated by Hamlet.
His plan backfires and he ends up getting cut by his own blade, and is now poisoned.
Before he dies, he reveals to Hamlet who poisoned the cup of wine which killed Gertrude, and in this way betrays Claudius