Talk:Laertes (Hamlet)

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What do you think laertes charcter is like

Many people remember Laertes as the guy that killed Hamlet, assuming he is the evil guy in the play. This is untrue. The main evil guy is King Claudius. Laertes seems to simply be trying to preserve the honor of his father, his family, and himself. In the end he realizes that the evil one is the King. He and Hamlet forgive each other before Laertes dies, poisoned by his own sword. I think he mainly wants honor, and is a good guy. - DestroyerPC

Laertes is Hamlet's mirror, everything that Hamlet isn't. He is obedient, honorable, and brave, and most importantly, very outgoing. When Hamlet learns that Claudius murdered his father, Hamlet takes his time for revenge, carefully plotting and indecisively refraining from action. On the other hand, when Laertes learns that his father is dead, he wastes no time in running back to Denmark and threatening the King himself, demanding to know what has happened to his father. Laertes is a good man, although a little too brazen at times.