In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” Laertes, the son of Polonius, has a strained relationship with Hamlet for a few key reasons. Firstly, Hamlet is responsible for the death of Laertes’ father, Polonius, which understandably leads to Laertes harboring resentment and a desire for revenge against Hamlet. Additionally, Laertes is protective of his sister, Ophelia, and is suspicious of Hamlet’s romantic intentions towards her, fearing that Hamlet’s affections will lead to Ophelia’s downfall. The conflict between Laertes and Hamlet ultimately culminates in a climactic duel, where Laertes seeks to avenge his father and sister’s deaths.
The conflict between Laertes and Hamlet is further exacerbated by Laertes’ belief that Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is fleeting and not to be taken seriously. As Laertes warns Ophelia, “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, / Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood; / A violet in the youth of primy nature, / Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting.” Laertes sees Hamlet’s affections as transient and not worthy of Ophelia’s trust, and he urges her to “keep you in the rear of your affection, / Out of the shot and danger of desire.” Laertes’ protective nature and distrust of Hamlet’s intentions contribute significantly to the tension between the two characters throughout the play.
The King tells Laertes about a skilled French swordsman, who Hamlet envies and wants to challenge. The King then asks Laertes if his father was important to him, possibly hinting at a plan involving revenge for his father’s death.
LAERTES.
What part is that, my lord?
KING.
A very riband in the cap of youth,
Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes
The light and careless livery that it wears
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,
Importing health and graveness. Two months since
Here was a gentleman of Normandy,—
I’ve seen myself, and serv’d against, the French,
And they can well on horseback, but this gallant
Had witchcraft in’t. He grew unto his seat,
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse,
As had he been incorps’d and demi-natur’d
With the brave beast. So far he topp’d my thought
That I in forgery of shapes and tricks,
Come short of what he did.
LAERTES.
A Norman was’t?
KING.
A Norman.
LAERTES.
Upon my life, Lamord.
KING.
The very same.
LAERTES.
I know him well. He is the brooch indeed
And gem of all the nation.
KING.
He made confession of you,
And gave you such a masterly report
For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especially,
That he cried out ‘twould be a sight indeed
If one could match you. The scrimers of their nation
He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,
If you oppos’d them. Sir, this report of his
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
That he could nothing do but wish and beg
Your sudden coming o’er to play with him.
Now, out of this,—
LAERTES.
What out of this, my lord?
KING.
Laertes, was your father dear to you?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?
In this passage, Hamlet confronts Laertes, accusing him of hypocrisy and expressing his anger towards him. The Queen and King try to calm Hamlet down, and the King asks Gertrude to keep watch over her son. They agree to wait patiently for a resolution to their situation.
KING.
O, he is mad, Laertes.
QUEEN.
For love of God forbear him!
HAMLET.
‘Swounds, show me what thou’lt do:
Woul’t weep? woul’t fight? woul’t fast? woul’t tear thyself?
Woul’t drink up eisel? eat a crocodile?
I’ll do’t. Dost thou come here to whine?
To outface me with leaping in her grave?
Be buried quick with her, and so will I.
And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
Millions of acres on us, till our ground,
Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou’lt mouth,
I’ll rant as well as thou.
QUEEN.
This is mere madness:
And thus awhile the fit will work on him;
Anon, as patient as the female dove,
When that her golden couplets are disclos’d,
His silence will sit drooping.
HAMLET.
Hear you, sir;
What is the reason that you use me thus?
I lov’d you ever. But it is no matter.
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.
[[Exit.] ]
KING.
I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.
[[ExitHoratio.] ]
[[To Laertes] ]
Strengthen your patience in our last night’s speech;
We’ll put the matter to the present push.—
Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.
This grave shall have a living monument.
An hour of quiet shortly shall we see;
Till then in patience our proceeding be.
Laertes advises Ophelia to be cautious of Hamlet’s affections, warning her that his love may not be genuine due to his status and obligations. He urges her to protect her honor and virtue by not giving in to his advances.
Enter Laertes. and Ophelia. .
LAERTES.
My necessaries are embark’d. Farewell.
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.
OPHELIA.
Do you doubt that?
LAERTES.
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood;
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting;
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;
No more.
OPHELIA.
No more but so?
LAERTES.
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 weigh’d, his will is not his own;
For he himself is subject to his birth:
He may not, as unvalu’d persons do,
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends
The sanctity and health of this whole state;
And therefore must his choice be circumscrib’d
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 honour may sustain
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster’d 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 disclos’d,
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.
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