The Shakespearean play, 'Hamlet,' is a story of revenge and the way the characters in the play respond to grief and the demands of loyalty. The importance of Laertes in the play is to show how he is easily manipulated and how he does not think before he acts, but instead he acts immediately.
             In Act IV Sc1 we see that Gertrude explains to Claudius that she believes Hamlet is truly mad and that as proof, he has killed Polonius and taken away the body. Claudius shows here that he was manipulative towards Polonius because he is thankful that he wasn't the one killed and that he was still alive. He manipulates everyone, his wife, Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern etc. He lies to his wife about her ex husband and he comforts her in a way so he can get what he wants and so he can get rid of Hamlet without Gertrude realizing. We sew this in Act IV Sc1 where he tells Gertrude not to worry and that he will deal with Hamlet.
             In Act IV scene 5 we also see Claudius's manipulation. Storming into the palace and throwing accusations at Claudius, Laertes reveals he is impulsive. Laertes's anger is due to the dishonour that has been inflicted on his family by Polonius's murder. Claudius takes advantage of the sudden appearance of Laertes, provoking him into assisting Claudius 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 choose different paths to attain it. Laertes acts on anger without thinking, but Hamlet waits, debating the consequence of committing murder. Laertes function is to contrast Hamlet's sensibility with his incensed spontaneity.
             Claudius manipulates to his advantage Laertes lack of hesitation and hot temper. Winning Laertes support by pointing Hamlet as a malicious killer, Claudius provokes Laertes to avenge Polonius. When brought to the call of avenging his father Laertes is fast to act, he wants re...