William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is known as one of the greatest tragedies and possibly his best work that he created in his playwriting career. In the end, many characters end up dead on the stage and several even go mentally insane on their way to death. However, clearly there is a common theme outside of everyone dying and I believe this to be loyalty in father and son relationships. This is the case between lord Polonius and his son, Laertes. Though they may not have had the best relationship before Polonius was murdered, it was clear that Laertes felt it to be essential that he proved his love for his father after his father had passed. The question is, did Laertes always have a passion for his father, and if not, why did he feel that he had to get revenge for his father’s honor in the second half of the play? Upon reaching the conclusion of the play, I found that Laertes always did respect his father, only he wanted to live for himself and not be told how to live his life by his wise father. This is the reason why he left for France, and it is also the reason why he came back to honor Polonius.
Towards the beginning of the play Hamlet, it becomes clear to the reader that Laertes wants out of Denmark, but the reason why he wanted out was not fully shown. When the reader looks at Act One, scene two, it is said that Laertes wants to go to France and his father, Polonius and he are talking with King Claudius about his departure. Laertes says that he has shown his duty to the king and now wishes to leave. It is made clear that his father Polonius does not want him to leave, but he does not want to stand in his son’s way:
“He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
By laboursome petition, and at last
Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.
I do beseech you give him leave to go.” (1.2.58-61)
These lines, spoken by lord Polonius, show that he is reluctant to let his son leave, and it also shows that he is protective of his son as well. In all honesty, Polonius does not know if his son will be able to survive on his own and make a living for himself. This can be seen more clearly when Laertes is preparing for his departure:
“This above all-to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell-my blessing season this in thee.” (1.3.78-82)
Polonius continues to give his son pointers on how to make it on his own in France. I think everyone can relate to a time like this in their lives when they just wanted to leave but their parents lecture on and on. I am sure this is how Laertes felt at this time; though he loved his father, at the same time he just wanted to get away from him. It is also obvious that Polonius has raised his family in a very protective manner, which is a good example of why Laertes is possibly over-protective of his sister Ophelia.
When Laertes finally reaches France, it is discovered by the reader that Polonius still has little faith in his son to take care of himself. To keep an eye on his son, Polonius orders his servant to France to secretly spy on Laertes and to make sure that he is doing alright. It is almost as if Polonius feels that he can not trust his son, and also, once again we see his over-protectiveness of his family. Along with his servant, Polonius also sends money and notes and tells him to “enquire of his behaviour.”
Later, in Act Four of Hamlet, Polonius is mistakenly murdered by the character of Hamlet who seemed to be one of those who were going insane at this point. When the news had reached to Laertes in France, he stormed back to Denmark to get revenge for his father’s death. Is this really the same character that two acts before had walked out on his father? Of course it is, because the love for his father and as I mentioned earlier, the respect for his father, were always present in Laertes. He just wanted to gain a little bit of freedom in his life which he was able to do, but a son must always keep his loyalty to his father. After all, is not the entire play based on Hamlet getting his revenge on his uncle, King Claudius, for his dead father? This is a proven fact that is still in existence today and it says that a father-son relationship is the highest respected relationship. There are times when a son seems to hate his father but could he ever really hate his father? In a few years, the son is going to be just like his father, and I for one can say that this is a true statement. This is the only way that one can understand the relationship between Laertes and his father Polonius. We all want freedom, but also while growing up, we need a role model. In Act Four, we get to see Laertes reaction to hearing of his father’s sudden death which defends the father-son theory:
“I dare damnation. To this point, I stand,
That both worlds I give to negligence,
Let come what comes. Only I’ll be revenged
Most thoroughly for my father.” (4.5.129-33)
The last act of the play is written so that Laertes has his chance to get his revenge on Hamlet who has murdered his father, and as Laertes believes, was the purpose for his sister’s death as well. However, are the feelings that he now has different from those he had in the beginning, or were they always with him? Once again, I believe the answer to be that the feelings were always there. Whether he may of knew it or not, he always had a devotion to his father, it just took Polonius’ death for him to realize it. He knew what he had lost in his life when his father had passed; as Laertes states, “And so have I a noble father lost.” (4.7.25) Maybe it was that he felt he was to blame for his father’s death and even for his sister’s sudden insanity because he left them for his own selfish freedom. It is sad that it took two deaths of his family members to make him realize that he was becoming a man, but in the end, it enabled him to die as a man.
A true tragedy, Hamlet proves to be one of, if not the best play that Shakespeare had ever written in his career. Though in the end, the death toll nears double figures and several others go insane, the play is really about bonds, honor, and loyalty. This is the relationship that exists between Laertes and his father Polonius. It is clear that they both loved one another, and that love was always present between them, yet sadly they were never able to let each other know how they felt.
Reference:
- Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: Norton, 1997. 1668-1756.
