Emotion fuels the fire of revenge within Hamlet and the basis for his actions. Emotion far overpowers his judgment and ability to realize when his actions appear irrational or unjustified. When Hamlet first encounters the …show more content…
Not only does the protagonist, Hamlet, suffer with this internal conflict, many of the supporting characters face the same difficulty. Although victim of it himself, Hamlet criticizes the Queen, his mother, when she allows emotion to overpower her. Hamlet reminds her “The hey-day in the blood is tame, it’s humble, And waits upon the judgement” (3.4.71-72). Shortly after, Hamlet changes his tone and scolds her, “Proclaim no shame When the compulsive ardour gives the charge,” (3.4.87-88). How can a character such as Hamlet deem himself reasonable when he speaks to a ghost nobody else can see (1.4.40)? How can a character find their actions reasonable when while digging graves while drunk and singing (5.1.66)? Reason and judgement are one in the same, however neither can exist when emotion blocks all sense of right and