Laertes' Motivations Harold Bloom speculates that part of Laertes' motivations in keeping Ophelia from Hamlet is jealousy: of his position, his...

I absolutely
agree with Bloom on this subject for several different reasons. Laertes wants the favor and
attention of his own father. Polonius spends most of the play focusing his attention on Hamlet
and Ophelia and their budding love, which leaves Laertes out and you can almost feel his
disappointment as the plot unfolds and he makes his way on stage each time. In an effort to gain
attention and favor somewhere to combat his jealousy and equalize himself with Hamlet he goes to
his arch enemy, Claudius and tries to win him over. Then Polonius dies at the hands of Hamlet
and his sister Ophelia takes her own life and Laertes sees it all tied to Hamlet and his
jealousy...