Laertes (character)
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Laertes is a character from William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. He is named after Laertes, Odysseus's father in Greek mythology.
Laertes is the son of Polonius as well as brother to Ophelia. In the final scene, he kills Hamlet with a poisoned rapier to avenge his family's death.
During the course of the play, we find Laertes to be a scholar and devoutly loyal son and brother. He had traveled from France to see King Claudius become king. That event over, he returns to France with the King's permission.
During his absence, Hamlet murders Polonius in his mother's bedchamber, thinking it could be the King eavesdropping. Hamlet hides the body, thus preventing Polonius from being buried honorably. Laertes, having heard of his father's death, returns to Denmark with a rebel force. They break down the castle's doors and Laertes confronts the King, thinking he was responsible for Polonius' death. The King encourages Laertes to kill Hamlet, and avenge Polonius' death.
Ophelia, his sister, then comes singing songs and handing people flowers. She has gone insane because of her father's murder. Later, Laertes is informed of his sister's death. She had climbed into a willow tree that hung over a brook, and fell into the water. Too insane to save herself, she drowned. This strengthens Laertes' resolve to kill Hamlet.
King Claudius arranges a duel between Hamlet and Laertes. Laertes uses his sharp, poisoned sword instead of a bated (dull) sword. The King provides a poisoned drink as a backup measure. Hamlet, grieving over the unintentional killing of Polonius and the loss of Ophelia, agrees to the fight.
Before the fight, Hamlet apologizes publicly to Laertes for the wrongs he has dealt him. Laertes accepts it, but stands by his challenge in order to maintain his honor. Hamlet is winning by two hits when the queen drinks from the poisoned chalice. Hamlet and Laertes continue their struggle, and both are cut by the poisoned sword.
Just then the queen dies, saying, "The drink, the drink! I am poisoned." Laertes then falls ill as well, from the poison of the sword. As he lies dying, Laertes confesses his and Claudius' treachery to Hamlet. They exchange forgiveness, and Hamlet slays the king before dying of the poisoned cut.
Laetres has often been called the foil for Hamlet because it is through the rash actions of Laertes that we can truly appreciate the intellectual battles Hamlet has with himself when deciding upon the correct course of action. For example: Whereas Hamlet takes the entire play to avenge the death of his father upon Claudius, Laertes storms in ready for regicide ( and damn the consequences) when he enters the play in Act IV after hearing of his father's death.
