Hamlet, Laertes and Ophelia response over Polonius Death
Laertes’ Response to Polonius’ Death
In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Laertes is one of the main characters. He is Polonius’ son and Ophelia’s brother. He has been shown as an aggressive man who immediately prepares himself to take the revenge of his murdered father. After Polonius was killed by Hamlet, Laertes immediately decides to take instant vengeance. As soon as he hears about his father’s murder, Laertes leaves France with a great number of his followers so that he could invade the Danish palace and overrun the King. His hostile and antagonistic nature is clearly mirrored when he expresses his feelings, “How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with: To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father” (4.5.6).
Although Polonius was loved by Laertus, he is not shown upset by his father’s death. Instead, he demonstrates a behavior that is too numb and foiled by revengeful feelings. After knowing that the King Claudius was not responsible for Polonius’ death and learning that Hamlet was the killer, Laertus shows hateful feelings towards Hamlet. However, Hamlet was forgiven by Laertus later as he says “I am satisfied in nature, Whose motive in this case should stir me most To my revenge. But in my terms of honor I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement! Till by some elder masters, of known honor, I have a voice and precedent of peace To keep my name ungored. But till that time I do receive your offered love like love, And will not wrong it” (5.2.235-243).
Ophelia’s Reaction to Polonius’ Death
Ophelia is the main female character in Hamlet. She was Polonius’ daughter and Laertes’ sister. She loves Hamlet beyond imagination. She goes completely mad after her father’s death as compared to her brother who doesn’t loses his mind but seeks out to take revenge of his father’s blood. Her grief for her father makes her talk in rhyme and conundrums. Now and then she is shown to hum crazy songs regarding death and lewd songs about lost virginity. She shows her mad feelings by singing “He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone; At his head a grass-green turf, At his heels a stone” (4.5.29-32), clearly showing sadness over her father’s death and that he won’t return to her. The character of Ophelia is a sensitive one which expresses intermingled thoughts that carry great meaning and grief.
Comparison of Reactions and How they Illuminate Hamlet’s Situation
Whereas Laertes shows a revengeful behavior after his father’s death, the reaction of Ophelia is completely different making her going mad. As far as Hamlet is concerned, he had the same situation of a murdered father but he didn’t show the same response of aggression as Laertes did. As a hero, it is unexpected of Hamlet to show such weakness. Similarly, he is not much concerned about Ophelia’s affectionate feelings towards him until after her shocking death. Therefore, it can be concluded that Hamlet is surely a unique character in the sense that he didn’t demonstrate the same courage as Laertes and even the warm side of a human being towards his/her lover.
Reference
Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet.” 5th ed. Great Britain: Oxford University Press (2009). Print.
Home » Research »