Hamlet: A True Father and Son Relationship

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)