He is not very bright, as we see in the way he becomes involved with Claudius.  He was quite spoiled by Polonius, and by his wealthy upbringing, so he is dependent on an older man for guidance.  He is superficial and impulsive, he lacks maturity, and he lacks a solid grounding in morality.

He is not very bright, as we see in the way he becomes involved with Claudius.  He was quite spoiled by Polonius, and by his wealthy upbringing, so he is dependent on an older man for guidance.  He is superficial and impulsive, he lacks maturity, and he lacks a solid grounding in morality.

By occupation, he is some kind of King's servant.  We know that because he requires King Claudius's permission to leave.  It's easy to guess that his father, the King's chief council, has gotten him a government job, (with a government paycheck,) perhaps as an aide to Polonius, himself.  Nepotism is fine as long as you keep it in the family.

By occupation, he is some kind of King's servant.  We know that because he requires King Claudius's permission to leave.  It's easy to guess that his father, the King's chief council, has gotten him a government job, (with a government paycheck,) perhaps as an aide to Polonius, himself.  Nepotism is fine as long as you keep it in the family, as the old saying goes.

A point to note is that Laertes is ''not'' returning to Paris to attend school.  In those days, and probably still for all I know, young aristocrats were sent abroad to further their educations by immersion in other cultures.  Laertes is immersing himself in things French (more than his father suspects is desirable.)

A point to note is that Laertes is ''not'' returning to Paris to attend school.  In those days, and probably still for all I know, young aristocrats were sent abroad to further their educations by immersion in other cultures.  Laertes is immersing himself in things French (more than his father suspects is desirable.)

His social status is "sir" at the beginning, a gentleman.  Later, he should inherit Polonius's title of "Lord."  However, he continues to be called "sir," so it may be one of those cases where the King has to ratify the inheritance of title.  I doubt Shakespeare missed this point, about "sir to lord" inheritance for Laertes.  As far as I can tell, Shakespeare missed nothing in the play.  It would be an additional inducement for Laertes to ally with Claudius if he needs the King's ratification for the title.

His social status is "sir" at the beginning, a gentleman.  Later, he should inherit Polonius's title of "Lord."  However, he continues to be called "sir," so it may be one of those cases where the King has to ratify the inheritance of title.  I doubt Shakespeare missed this point, about "sir to lord" inheritance for Laertes.  As far as I can tell, Shakespeare missed nothing in the play.  It would be an additional inducement for Laertes to ally with Claudius if he needs the King's ratification for the title.

* <b>Casting</b> - Ideally, according to type, Laertes should look older than Hamlet, but not by too much.  He should look athletic, in a slender way (he's a fencer, not a weightlifter.)  He can be slightly taller than Hamlet, by an inch perhaps, merely to go along with him being older.

* <b>Casting</b> - Ideally, according to type, Laertes should look older than Hamlet, but not by too much.  He should look athletic, in a slender way (he's a fencer, not a weightlifter.)  He can be slightly taller than Hamlet, by an inch perhaps, to go along with him being older.

There is reference to beards in the play, so if he wears a beard it should be in the style an audience could see as French.  He will have adopted French styles, from living there.  An English audience could see a goatee as French, and a goatee is the stereotypical beard style of both the god Pan, and Satan.  Laertes is both oversexed (as Pan is understood to be) and also satanic (in that he conspires to commit the murder of the play's hero, and does so.)  It points to the goatee as the correct beard style for Laertes.  It must not be too full a beard, since he's young.

* <b>Costume</b> - There is reference to beards in the play, so if he wears a beard it should be in the style an audience could see as French.  He will have adopted French styles, from living there.  An English audience could see a goatee as French, and a goatee is the stereotypical beard style of both the god Pan, and Satan.  Laertes is both oversexed (as Pan is understood to be) and also satanic (in that he conspires to commit the murder of the play's hero, and does so.)  It points to the goatee as the correct beard style for Laertes.  It must not be too full a beard, since he's young.

His costuming should be in the French manner, and loud, too flamboyant for his father at least.  He know that from express statements in the dialogue, in Scene 3, where Polonius tells Laertes he should dress more conservatively.

His costuming should be in the French manner, and loud, too flamboyant for his father at least.  We know that from express statements in the dialogue, in Scene 3, where Polonius tells Laertes he should dress more conservatively.  So, his costuming should be flashy in Scene 3, but more subdued later in the play.  In the Graveyard Scene, Scene 19, he should, of course, be dressed in mourning clothes.

===Name===

===Name===

Significant lines spoken by Laertes:

Significant lines spoken by Laertes:

===Themes and Motifs===

===Themes and Motifs===

Those most immediately to Laertes's character and dialogue:

Those most immediately relevant to Laertes's character and dialogue:

[[Revenge]], [[Death]], [[Madness]] and [[Putting on a Show]].

[[Revenge]], [[Death]], [[Madness]] and [[Putting on a Show]].