Storming into the palace and throwing accusations at Claudius, Laertes reveals he is impulsive. Laertes anger is due to the dishonor that has been inflicted on his family by Polonius's murder. Claudius takes advantage of the sudden appearance of Laertes, by provoking Laertes into assisting him in plotting Hamlet's murder. Shakespeare uses Laertes not only as a catalyst in the story, but as a contrast to the pensive Hamlet. Both men seek the same kind of justice but chose different paths to attain it. Laertes acts on anger without thinking, but Hamlet waits, debating the consequence of committing murder. Laertes...
to Hamlet because as the conclusion to the play draws near confusion is produced by Hamlet's lack of action against Claudius. Shakespeare uses Laertes reckless abandon as a way of showing how Hamlets contemplation is not procrastination but a sign of intelligence. Laertes will avenge his father, as will Hamlet, but only Hamlet foresees the horror of justice, and avenges his father knowing full well the repercussions he will receive for murder. Shakespeare shows Hamlet maturity, and thus Hamlet receives respect for meditating on what he must do rather than if he had acted carelessly and killed without thinking.