His putting off of the killing of Claudius leads to the death of almost all the main characters, including Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. ... It happens in the last scene, and in this same scene both Hamlet, Gertrude and Laertes are as well killed. ... Polonius's son Laertes now feels a desperate need to avenge his fathers death, his reaction conforming to the revenge genre stereotype in a much neater way than Hamlet's. After hearing of his fathers murder, Laertes actively seeks immediate revenge, challenging Hamlet to a fencing match and poisoning his swor...

• Word Count: 1503
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Laertes on the surface is protecting his sister from a romantic relationship with a brooding prince, however some modern audiences have interpreted this dialogue as Laertes not wanting his sister Ophelia to fall into the arms of Hamlet so he can have her to himself. ...

• Word Count: 3412
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Why He Feigns Insanity Hamlet feigns insanity because it allows him to do several things that he otherwise would be unable to do: With respect to Ophelia, Hamlet would like to express his intense, irrepressible anger towards her without arising suspicion in her or in others that he is in a hostile rational mental state. This would help prevent others in the royal household from speculating that Hamlet was rationally planning hostile actions such as killing Claudius. (The specific nature of this anger will be discussed later). With Gertrude, Hamlet would also like to express ...

• Word Count: 2027
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate