Matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!

Matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!

In William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the line "Matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!" is spoken by the character of Polonius. This line reflects the theme of madness that runs throughout the play, as well as the idea of the blurred lines between sanity and insanity.

Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain of King Claudius, is a character who is often portrayed as a bumbling fool, but he also has moments of insight and wisdom. In this particular line, Polonius is commenting on the behavior of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who has been displaying signs of madness since the death of his father, King Hamlet.

The phrase "Matter and impertinency mix'd" suggests that Hamlet's thoughts and actions are a confusing jumble of important matters and trivialities. He is unable to distinguish between what is relevant and what is not, leading to a sense of chaos and disorder in his mind. This confusion is further emphasized by the phrase "Reason in madness," which implies that there is some logic or rationale behind Hamlet's seemingly irrational behavior.

Throughout the play, Hamlet's madness is a source of much debate and speculation. Some characters, such as Polonius and Claudius, believe that Hamlet's madness is genuine, while others, like Hamlet himself, use it as a guise to disguise his true intentions. The line "Matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!" captures the complexity of Hamlet's character and the ambiguity of his mental state.