Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend / Which is the mightier.
Act IV, Scene 1 · Gertrude
Context
Gertrude describes Hamlet's mental state to Claudius immediately after Hamlet has killed Polonius in her chamber, explaining how violently unstable her son appeared during the confrontation.
Analysis
The simile equates Hamlet's madness with two elemental forces locked in equal combat, neither able to dominate the other. This phrasing refuses to settle on a single explanation for his behavior—the comparison itself enacts indeterminacy, mirroring Gertrude's (and the audience's) inability to decide whether Hamlet is genuinely unhinged or performing madness. By choosing natural forces rather than human comparisons, Gertrude also strips agency from Hamlet, presenting him as driven by something beyond rational control.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Gertrude's language consistently externalizes Hamlet's responsibility—she describes madness as a force acting on him, not a choice he makes, which protects both her son and herself from full accountability for Polonius's death.