Emotion, Reason and Fate in Hamlet

When one loses a loved one, it may take a harsh hit on his or her mind frame. The death of Hamlet's father in Shakespeare's play Hamlet causes several problems, all of which contribute to the tragic death of Hamlet. All the events taking place in the play are impacted by emotion, reason, and fate. Specifically, the events in the play that caused or resulted in Hamlet's downfall are determined by roles of emotion, reason, and fate. These three are the primary factors of the play.

Emotion is a key aspect that happens in the play and shapes various events and scenes. Hamlet is depicted as a very emotional and impulsive character. The relationship Hamlet has with his mother is an apparent example of how emotional and impulsive he is. Notwithstanding of the apparent reasoning for being displeased with his mother for marrying Claudius shortly after King Hamlet's death, he is still pointlessly frivolous and demeaning towards her, annoying her to a point where his mother asked what she has done that he dare to say rude things to her (Shakespeare 189).

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Hamlet also frustrates and outsmarts Polonius with his responses, who says, 'How pregnant sometimes his replies are!' (Shakespeare 211). Polonius also adds that Hamlet bears happiness, which, in most instances, madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. Through Hamlet's interaction with other characters in the play, the audience is shown that he is cynical and pessimistic. The pessimism he displays influences his future decisions and perception of events.

Reason serves the role of advancing the plot, especially when Hamlet devises a plan to reassure his father's ghost's prediction. Hamlet laments to himself to devise a plan, 'For murder, though it has no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ. I will have these players play something like the murder of my father before my uncle. I'll observe his looks I’ll tend him to the quick. If he does blench, I know my course (Shakespeare 36). The plot is advanced through this since Hamlet discerns the next approach he takes towards his father's assassination. The way Hamlet uses reason reassures him that his uncle is guilty, prompting him to seek vengeance, which in turn triggers other events in the play. The reasoning plan that Hamlet has, upsets Claudius, further directing him to kill Polonius and consequently resulting in his downfall. The role of reason is also depicted in the scene where it acts on Hamlet's superego, and he overthinks his chances to murder Claudius. Hamlet continues spying on Claudius while Claudius prays, and he says, “Now I might do it a pat. Now he is praying. And not I’ll do it. And so, he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged that would be scanned (Shakespeare 49).

A villain kills my father and for that, I, his only son, will do the same to the villain by sending him to heaven. Hamlet continues to perceive this as hire and salary but not revenge. Because of Hamlet's reasoning, his superego makes him overthink and avoid killing Claudius. He develops a fear that Claudius may go to heaven if he is killed while praying. Therefore, Hamlet misses the opportunity to kill Claudius, which in turn allows Claudius to be established and remain alive. By sticking to that thought, Hamlet confronts Gertrude about Claudius, and by doing so, he murders Polonius by mistake. However, Claudius still fears that Hamlet is trying to kill him, while Laertes wants to avenge his father's death. Ultimately, the mistaken murder pushed Hamlet to his downfall as Claudius and Laertes are seeking to kill him. The application of reason assists in advancing the plot when both Laertes and Claudius make plans to murder Hamlet. Claudius persuades Laertes to kill Hamlet, and Laertes also demonstrates eagerness as he says that he will do it, and for that purpose, he will anoint his sword, the one he is determined that if he gallon Hamlet slightly it may be death. In the end, both revengeful paths, end in death, which at the same time results in Hamlet's downfall.

Finally, the question of fate is another important role in shaping the events of the play. Hamlet is in the dark with respect to the situations that await him as well as the consequences of his decisions. Hamlet is not typical of persons procrastinating without reason or just for fear of defeat. He comes to understand that the only choices that he has will ultimately result in hopelessness. The first significant instance of fate changing the course leading to Hamlet's downfall is when he first comes across his father's ghost. At the beginning of the play, it is indicated that the ghost talks to Hamlet. It says, “But know, though noble youth, the serpent that did not sting thy father's life now wears his crown (Shakespeare 40). In this scene, fate is applied to infuse an unlikely plot event, which basically activates Hamlet's quest for vengeance for his father. The event of Hamlet experiencing his father's ghost offers him a reason to seek vengeance, which, after he chooses to proceed with it, cause his downfall.

Based on the bits of evidence discussed above, it can be concluded that emotion, reason, and fate are the three main factors that shape the events of the play. The events in the play that caused or resulted in Hamlet's downfall are determined by these three roles. In terms of emotion, Hamlet is depicted as a very emotional and impulsive character, which makes him cynical and pessimistic. These features influence the decisions and perception of events. Reason serves the role of advancing the plot, especially when Hamlet devises a plan to reassure his father's ghost's prediction. The application of reason assists in advancing the plot when both Laertes and Claudius make plans to murder Hamlet. In regard to fate, Hamlet is in the dark with respect to the situations that await him as well as the consequences of his decisions.