Laertes Attitude Towards Ophelia

For every cause there is an effect, for every action there is a consequence. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Hamlet finds himself in unusual and confusing situations. In these situations Hamlet des the extreme, which impacts the lives of others around him. His actions towards Ophelia and Polonius create a domino effect of violence and heartbreak throughout out the play. While Hamlet’s insensitive and heartless actions impact Ophelia and her fate, his ill-mannered behavior towards Ophelia also directly affects her brother, Laertes’, decisions.
Although Ophelia originally breaks up with Hamlet, she becomes distraught and hysterical when he breaks her heart. Hamlet deceives Ophelia in to breaking her most sacred virtue. Hamlet promises …show more content…
Laertes seeks “revenge” on Hamlet after he loses his “noble father” and his sister is “driven into” insanity (Shakespeare 223-224). Ultimately, Laertes wants to kill Hamlet for everything he has done to his family. After finding out Hamlet kills his father, Polonius, and his sister commits suicide, Laertes is “unable to perceive and accept reality” (Bali 82). The reality Hamlet creates enrages Laertes and causes him to take extreme measures. The thought of confronting Hamlet and telling “him to his teeth” what he knows “warms the very sickness in [Laertes’] heart” (Shakespeare 227). Hamlet’s actions make Laertes so angry that he wants to retaliate by cutting “his throat [in] church” (Shakespeare 231). The “various motives behind [Laertes’] insanity” directly relate to Hamlet’s vicious stabbing of Polonius and Hamlet’s treatment of Ophelia which “ultimately culminate into her suicide” (Bali 83, 86). The desire to seek revenge on Hamlet depicts Laertes’ insanity, the root of this insanity lies solely on the effects of Hamlet’s actions on Laertes’ family. Family means everything, having everything taken away by someone results in anger and