Hamlet theme, Passion versus Reason

Question

Examples of Passion vs. Reason in the play

Answer 1

Best example:

Laertes comes to King Claudius choking with passion to kill Hamlet, who murdered his father, or to kill Claudius or to kill someone for vengeance: he's so hot under the collar he hardly knows how to conduct himself.

Claudius appraises Laertes coolly, using reason and understanding, and manages to subdue him and finally bend him to his own purposes. It is a victory of reason over passion.

TWO OTHER INSTANCES

Ophelia = passion (& goes mad) and reacts to situations rather than mastering them through intellect

Hamlet  = reason; he tries to think things through thoroughly and survives, for a while longer at least.

Gertrude = passion, hot to bed Claudius, will not listen when he tells her not to drink the stoup of (poisoned--she doesn't know it has been tainted) liquor

Claudius = reason, like Hamlet trying to figure it all out and surviving a while longer at least