laertes & claudius

King Claudius uses Laerte's state of mind after his father has died to his advantage to try and manipulate and corrupt him. For example, Claudius says: "Laertes, was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, a face without a heart?" (808). Claudius accuses Laertes of only showing sorrow on the outside to build up more anger within Laertes and incline him further to want to seek vengeance. Claudius asks these rhetorical questions to infuriate Laertes and manipulate him to want to kill Hamlet. Claudius proves to be very scheming and cunning in his ways of influencing Laertes.