Laertes may have spent most of his time at France during the play, yet he stands as an essential character as he changes from being a kind hearted man to a vengeful and impulsive person with only one intention in his mind. Throughout the play, he begins to foil Hamlet by sharing the same deepest intentions and utter pain after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Shakespeare may have intended Laertes to only be a minor character in Hamlet, but his different qualities revealed during the play enhances the reoccurring themes and makes him incredibly significant to support the basic plot of the play.

Laertes possesses three important qualities that make him stand out among the other minor characters. He is first introduced in the very beginning before he leaves to France by being thoughtful and loving to his baby sister Ophelia about Hamlet. He looks...