Final answer:
Laertes's reference to 'contagious blastments' in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' symbolizes moral corruption that spreads like a disease, corrupting character and honor.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the character Laertes uses the term "contagious blastments" to reference metaphorical diseases that do not have a physical form but can taint one's character or honor. These "diseases" would be akin to moral corruption, spreading like an infection through deceit, manipulation, or betrayal. Laertes likely implies that such negative influences can have a deteriorating effect on a person's values and relationships, moulding them into something foul or unrecognizable.