# Laertes — Hamlet character guide

> Laertes in Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** young Laertes, good Laertes, Laertes Farewell, Laertes A Norman, Laertes Ay, King Good Laertes

**First appearance:** 0001-act-i

## Snapshot

Polonius's son, bound for France with a brother's warnings for Ophelia and a father's precepts in his pocket, quick to act where Hamlet only thinks.

## Who they are

Laertes is the court's polished young man abroad, affectionate to his sister and dutiful to his father, warned to keep his affections in the rear and his honor intact. He is everything Hamlet is not: decisive, unburdened by metaphysics, and willing to translate grief directly into deed. His departure for France removes the one person who might have protected Ophelia, and his return, when it comes, will be the play's most dangerous homecoming.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Requests and receives permission from the King to return to France.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii)

Warns Ophelia about Hamlet's intentions and advises her to guard her honor before departing for France.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v)

Returns from France, leads a riot demanding revenge for his father's death, confronts Claudius.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii)

Grieves for his father and sister, swears revenge, and agrees to Claudius's murder plot.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Grieves for Ophelia and quarrels with Hamlet in her grave.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Accepts Hamlet's apology but remains honor-bound; uses a poisoned rapier in the duel; dies after confessing.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/characters/laertes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/characters