The Character of Laertes in Hamlet Although he seems merely a minor character, Laertes is of great importance in the play, Hamlet, and much more so than one might initially believe, due to his vast internal conflict. He is good, loyal and honorable, he seems to possess the greatest virtue of all the characters, yet he is still condemned to die together with the other characters, precisely because of his great virtue. At the beginning of scene two, in the first lines Laertes speaks in the play, he asks King Claudius to allow him to return to his duties in France. This is important from the point of view that it demonstrates his dislike of the king and his desire to stay away from the questionable circumstances of his marriage and subsequent accession to the throne, a wise decision and an attempt to remain secluded and above the world , like the Greek ?superman? he sees himself gaining immortality by doing, although Laertes has personal feelings about the matter, unlike the true Stoic, so his attempt is a failure, albeit a noble one. At the beginning of scene three, Laertes speaks to his sister Ophelia about her relationship with Hamlet, and warning her to ?Weigh what loss your honor might suffer,/If with too believing an ear you list his songs,? (1.3.29) otherwise he loses his virtue to Prince Hamlet. Does this exemplify his loyalty and love for his family, and especially his sister, even if she responds to his warnings and advice with the sarcastic response of don't do it? Show me the steep and thorny path to heaven, / While, like a puffed up and reckless libertine, / He himself walks the primrose path of love / And does not consider his own redeemer.? (1.3.47) Next Ophelia and Laertes? Father Polonius enters and Laertes leaves with a final warning t... in the center of the card... those who got rid of the ball are Horace and Fortinbras. Horatio being the extreme neutrality of Stoicism, his inaction leads him not to get involved in events, since he is simply an observer, and Fortinbras is an action taken to the extreme, he has no indecision or change of heart, and is in able to overcome everything that stands in his way. Laertes tries both ways, but because he cannot decide which path to take, he exemplifies the metaphor best, only breaking away from the ball after it has gone over the cliff. Seeing his mistake and the path to success, he can't turn back and is doomed, learning, as all the other characters who can't stay on their path do, that indecision is the real enemy. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet. approx. 1600-1601. Ed. Edoardo Hubler. A classic with a seal. New York: Penguin Publishers,1963.