King Hamlet's death turns Hamlet's world from one of order to one of chaos. He knows
Claudius killed his father, and he knows it is his duty to avenge his fathers death. He does not
know when he should act. Therefore a major conflict arises within him, the conflict of passion vs.
reason. The theme of passion vs. reason is prevalent throughout the play, and Hamlet is drawn to
both sides of his reason and passion: reason being that he should wait to achieve revenge until a
perfect time, passion being that he should revenge his father immediately, and face the
consequences later. Throughout the play, Hamlet's passion almost overtakes his reason. Seeing
Fortinbras and Laertes act on their passions, he is continuously distraught. He thinks himself a
coward and goes as far as to say he should not live. Amidst Hamlet's confusion and passion
comes Horatio. Being the only trustworthy person in Hamlet's life, Horatio is able to reign in
Hamlet's passion with his reason, inciting Hamlet to act more logically, and therefore be able to
In the first scene Hamlet and Horatio are in together, Horatio shows that his reason is able
to win over Hamlet's passion. When Hamlet is conversing with the ghost and Horatio and
Marcellus are left on their own, Marcellus states "Something is rotten in the state of
Denmark"(I,v, 24), and Horatio responds with "Heaven will direct it." Although a simple
response, Horatio shows that he does not think this unknown uneasiness should be acted on, and
if a person decided to take action, they would need to know what it is first, and then not try to
actively make it right. When Hamlet comes back from talking to the ghost, he jests with Horatio,
saying "There's never a villain dwelling in all Denmark/But he's an arrant knave"(I,v,28), and
Horatio responds "There needs no ghost, my lord, come f...