Laertes and Hamlet are intertwined characters whose lives draw many parallels. Both characters end up with similar goals, that of avenging their father’s deaths. Yet each one handles it very differently. Hamlet hears from a ghost, potentially his father’s, so he is unsure of the validity of his father being murdered. In order to discover the truth, Hamlet feigns madness and also sets up a play for Claudius. Laertes on the other hand, is quite sure his father was murdered and quite sure who the murderer is after he returns. Laertes acts as any son seeking revenge would. He heroically seeks the facts from Claudius and strives to find the killer.
In Act IV of Hamlet Laertes returns to Denmark with a clear mission. He is only slightly confused about why his father was killed; however, he is very direct in his mission. Laertes has returned to find the murderer and kill him, even if it means cutting his throat in a church. Hamlet also wishes to kill his father’s murderer. He first decides to prove the King’s guilt, but even after that he cannot fulfill his goal. Hamlet often views himself as a coward, which highlights Laertes as a hero. Laertes has a plan and is unafraid, where as, Hamlet takes lots of time and never knows when to kill Claudius. This division not only separates the characters but also makes them more comparable. They have basic similarities; close in age, studied abroad, in the court; but nothing draws them closer than their missions. This connection is shown in their final moments as each demonstrates respect for each other after killing each other. They realize they were both consumed by their rage and twisted into a crazy plot by Claudius. Even though Laertes was angry, he does forgive Hamlet. Laertes was a noble man with clear sense. The sudden news of a father’s death would provoke anyone to act the way he did. Since Hamlet’s news was more drawn out and less clear, so was his revenge plan. Part of the reason Laertes comes across as heroic is because of Hamlet. Hamlet’s plan and madness are too deceptive. As he says, he is something of a coward. If Hamlet had been direct and firm with his goal then Laertes may not have seemed so honorable. The contrast between the two’s actions places each one at each end of the spectrum, coward and hero.
