Why did Laertes think Claudius killed Polonius?

[ginayang]

Initially, why did Laertes think Claudius killed Polonius? Polonius was a trusty and loyal servant of Claudius so Polonius was favored. I seriously don't know but we were talking about it briefly in class the other day.

Maybe Laertes thought Claudius killed Polonius because he heard about King Hamlet getting killed by Claudius. And maybe Polonius knew about Claudius's crime and told it to Laertes. So Laertes knew Claudius's ability to quietly murder someone and immediately thought it was Claudius. Claudius has the most skill and power to kill someone.

[sarahlee4]

I think that the first person Laeretes suspected was Claudius because before Claudius was throned king, he didnt really have a good reputation with the townspeople. They thought of him as a phony and no one really liked him. They would always make fun of him. I dont think that Laeretes really blamed Hamlet in the beginning because Hamlet was well loved by the people of Denmark. Hamlet is Denmarks jewel and also, Laretes knows that Hamlet loves Ophelia so he knows he wouldnt do that to his father.

[hannahs]

I think that Laertes thought that Claudius killed Polonius since Laertes heard that they secretly buried Polonius. He must have thought that if Claudius wasn't the one that killed Polonius, Claudius would have no reason to bury Polonius secretly since he isn't trying to hide anything.

[sang]

Laertes probably knew about Claudius's killing of King Hamlet. Because obviously, if he hadn't known about it, there'd be no other reason to suspect Laertes. I think that Laertes lost respect and a sense of credibility for King Claudius since he proved to be a murderer. So it's no doubt that he suspected Claudius first because if he killed the King, then he'd no doubt kill his advisor without a second thought.

[seongrae]

I agree that Laertes heard about Claudius murdering King Hamlet. This made Laertes to think that Claudius have more potential to kill his father, Polonius. Also Polonius was buried secretly which have no reason to be since if Claudius didn’t killed Polonius, he do not have to bury secretly, he can bury in Christina way.

[sammy576]

I think Leartes thought that when Claudius killed Hamlet's dad, the origional king, he was entrusted
with that info thus putting great trust in him.

[minchoi0923]

I agree with people that Laertes thought it would be Claudius because he has heard about the murder. One he has learned that Claudius can kill anyone, even his own brother, for his own benefits so when he found out that his own father was murdered, he suspected Claudius committed murder with the same motive. Also, the fact that Claudius buried Polonius secretly also made Laertes suspicious; he would never have imagined Hamlet doing such things because Hamlet had such a great reputation.

[RegXD]

Maybe as sarah mentions that he has no reputation in public, so that means of maybe Polonius and Claudius teamed up and killing King Hamlet. thats one possibility, but the other would be that why laertes would suspect claudius first rather than anyone else. Because Claudius the closest to Polonius rather anyone else in the kingdom. so who to blame when Polonius has no reputation with other people.

[sujeonggg]

As we heard this at today's trial, I think it's because Polonius was the one who helped Claudius planning to kill old Hamlet. Because Laertes was Polonius's son, he also would know the Polonius-Claudius conspiracy. And so Laertes possibly thought that Claudius, who killed his own brother, would kill his servant(Polonius) who knows too much about him.

[tha0ism]

Laertes thought that Claudius killed Polonius maybe becuase Claudius didnt have a good reputation. Or maybe he he knew that the one who killed the king hamlet was claudius. So he might have thought that if claudius killed the king hamlet, then he might have killed polonious too beucase polonious new too much about claudius. Including things claudius doesnt want people to know

[alexkoo]

I think i have to agree with sang above there. It is a speculation, but it makes sense. Laertes must have known that Claudius killed King Hamlet that Claudius can also kill Polonius easily. Also, Polonius was buried seceretly which made Laertes to think that there must be conspiracy.