Act 5

Laertes, in Hamlet , is a very peculiar character because of the complexity of his personality. It is very difficult to label him a good or a bad natured character. From his entrance in the play in Act 5 scene 1, to his ultimate death in Act 5 scene 2, he goes through dynamic character changes. From the time of his entrance he is already marred by the death of his father, by Hamlet, and with the combination of Claudius’s domineering influence, he allied himself against Hamlet. Afterwards they meet at the graveyard and during their quarrel, you hear words from Claudius that change the readers mind over his actual intentions. He says that he truly loved his sister just as much as Hamlet did, and it appears Laertes really can love unlike Claudius, and seems that he is actually more like Hamlet then the king. In the final scene during the duel, after Laertes agrees to kill Hamlet, he begins to have some hesitation before entering his duel saying “Ill hit him now… And yet it is almost against my conscience.” Pg. 279 ll.323-4 Showing his regret for having dueled Hamlet, in this plot to murder him. Then when he is struck down, in a moment of clarity, he asks for forgiveness from Hamlet, and cites the king’s evil, not his, that has done him in.