The Dashing Laertes of HamletThe character of Laertes in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet is an interesting one. Although apparently of relatively low rank as the son of the Lord Chamberlain, he nevertheless commands such respect from the populace that they mobilize to make him king at some point. First, let's see how he fits into the royal formation at Elsinore. , examining them on the basis of the most apparent personal qualities. Helen Gardner, by way of overview, compares Laertes to Hamlet and King Claudius in "Hamlet and the Tragedy of Revenge": Hamlet's anguish of mind and indecision are precisely the things that differentiate him from the conspirator gentle and quick Claudius, and the crude, thoughtless Laertes, ready to “dare damnation” and cut the throat of his enemy in a cemetery (222). Laertes makes his appearance in the drama after Marcellus, Barnardo, and Horatio have already seen the Ghost and played with him in an attempt to incite him. it to communicate with them. Laertes attends a social gathering of the court at Elsinore. Laertes, like Hamlet's rival Fortinbras (Kermode 1138), appears with his father, Polonius, who is later shown manipulating him and his sister (Boklund 122). Laertes respectfully approaches the king, who asks: "And now, Laertes, what is your news?" / You told us about a trial; What is it, Laertes? Laertes responds in a manner befitting the lord chamberlain's son: My formidable lord, Your permission and favor to return to France; Whence, though willingly, I came to Denmark, To show my duty in your coronation [. . .] . (1.2) After Claudius bids Laertes farewell on his return journey to France, the young man...... middle of paper ....... San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. of Hamlet: Cinematographic, television and audio performance. Rutherford, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. P., 1988. Kermode, Frank. "Hamlet." The Shakespeare by the River. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974. Rosenberg, Marvin. “Laertes: an impulsive but serious young aristocrat.” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992. Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos. Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: Sons of GP Putnam, 1907-1921; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/215/0816.html