Question

How does Hamlet’s speech reflect the ideals of Renaissance humanism?

Answer 1

Answer:

He explores the purpose of living and places a high value on reason.

Explanation:

William Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet" tells the story of how a young son/ prince avenged the death of his father on the hands of his own uncle. Claudius had not only murdered the former king but also taken his wife, Queen Gertrude to be his own wife.

The passage / speech of Hamlet is based off the scene from Act IV scene iv, when everyone had left and only Hamlet was left on the stage. He is saying that man and animals are alike, if only men does not use his reasoning and thinking capacity. Since he's been planning on how and when to do the deed, he claims that men are supposed to use their reasoning skills everyday, or that wouldn't have made them no different to the animals. This importance of reason and thinking was one of the more important issues that Renaissance humanism emphasizes, thus reflected in this scene.