Hamlets Madness in William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay

Hamlets Madness in William Shakespeares Hamlet At any given moment during the play, the most accurate assessment of Hamlets state of mind probably lies somewhere between sanity and insanity. Hamlet certainly displays a high degree of mania and instability throughout much of the play, but his madness is perhaps too purposeful and pointed for us to conclude that he actually loses his mind. His language is erratic and wild, but beneath his mad-sounding words often lie acute observations that show the sane mind working bitterly beneath the surface. Most likely, Hamlets decision to feign madness is a sane one, taken to confuse his enemies and hide his intentions. On the other hand, Hamlet finds†¦show more content†¦Hamlet speaks these lines after enduring the unpleasant scene at Claudius and Gertrudes court, then being asked by his mother and stepfather not to return to his studies at Wittenberg but to remain in Denmark, presumably against his wishes. Here, Hamlet thinks for the first time about suicide (desiring his flesh to melt, and wishing that God had not made self-slaughter a sin), saying that the world is weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable. In other words, suicide seems like a desirable alternative to life in a painful world, but Hamlet feels that the option of suicide is closed to him because it is forbidden by religion. Hamlet then goes on to describe the causes of his pain, specifically his intense disgust at his mothers marriage to Claudius. He describes the haste of their marriage, noting that the shoes his mother wore to his fathers funeral were not worn out before her marriage to Claudius. He compares Claudius to his father (his father was so excellent a king while Claudius is a bestial satyr). As he runs through his description of their marriage, he touches upon the important motifs of misogyny, crying, Frailty, thy name is woman; incest, commenting that his mother moved [w]ith such dexterity to incestuous sheets; and the ominous omen the marriage represents forShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hamlets Antic Disposition1487 Words   |  6 PagesHamlets Antic Disposition      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Shakespeares famous tragedy Hamlet, the main character of the story is one majestically elaborated, aside from being quite complex. There are infinite volumes written about this character because Shakespeare leaves no firm proof of many of his character traits. Yet on Hamlets antic disposition, meaning his obviously absurd temperament or madness, Shakespeare leaves plenty of reason to believe that it is feigned, meaning that it is simply a ployRead MoreEssay about Hamlets Anger and Morality in William Shakespeares Hamlet1540 Words   |  7 PagesHamlets Anger and Morality in William Shakespeares Hamlet In Shakespeares Hamlet, Hamlet is faced with emotional and physical hardship. The suffering that he endures causes his character to develop certain idiosyncrasies. Morality has a significant importance to Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet possesses a strong sense of morality. A sense that is stronger than all other characters. Hamlets actions and feelings are controlled by his morality. His morality grows weaker as theRead MoreIs Hamlet s Madness Genuine Or Feigned?1671 Words   |  7 PagesJordan Avery Mrs. Joyner Honors English IV 17 December 2015 Is Hamlet’s Madness Genuine or Feigned? One of the most controversially discussed themes in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is the theme of Hamlet’s madness. Shakespeare left it up to the audience to decide whether he was truly crazy or not. Although, there are many deliberate acts of fabricated insanity repeated throughout the play. Hamlet’s life events such as the death of his father, loving someone he cannot have, andRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare880 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is praised as the pioneering English poet and playwright whose collection of theatrical works is regarded as the greatest artistic value throughout the history of English literature. Shakespeare delved into the spiritual and mental component of humanity and the consequences that arise from this human spirit when it is disputed. The most famous revenge tragedy play, Hamlet, is an excellent illustration of Shakespeare’s philosophical study of human nature. In Hamlet, the arguableRead MoreOphelias Madness Essay909 Words   |  4 PagesThe character of Ophelia is an excellent element of drama used to develop interpretations of Shakespeare’s text. At the beginning of the play, she is happy and in love with Hamlet, who first notices her beauty and then falls in love with her. The development of Ophelia’s madness and the many factors that contributed to her suicide are significant parts of the plot. â€Å"Her madness was attributed to the extremity of her emotions, which in such a frail person led to melancholy and eventual breakdown†Read MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet Essay751 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet Hamlet might well claim to be Shakespeares most famous play because of its language and the charm of its central character. Shakespeare wrote some thirty-eight plays. Taken individuallyRead More Ophelia as a Foil to Shakespeares Hamlet Essay875 Words   |  4 PagesOphelia as a Foil to Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚      In Shakespeares tragedy, Hamlet, the audience finds a docile, manipulated, scolded, victimized young lady named Ophelia. Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet. Plays have foils to help the audience better understand the more important characters in the play.   The character of Ophelia is necessary so that the audience will give Hamlet a chance to get over his madness and follow his heart.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similarities are an important part of being a foil. OneRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare891 Words   |  4 Pagesliterature, William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, was written in the early 1600s. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the protagonist, young prince Hamlet, is instructed by the ghostly figure of his father to seek revenge on his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet’s father was murdered by Claudius, who seized the throne after his death and married the queen, Hamlet’s mother. The occurring events possibly drive young Hamlet into madness. Madness plays a major part in the play, Hamlet, but one could compare Hamlet’s abilityRead MoreHamlet and New Historicism795 Words   |  4 Pagesframework. William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, written between 1599 and 1602, is a tragedy that has become an iconic example of madness, paranoia, romance, blood thirst, and the supernatural. Hamlet sees his father’s ghost and discovers that his father, the former King of Denmark, was poisoned by his brother Claudius. As the plot unfolds, Hamlet appears to be crazed as his paranoia and suspicions overcome him. Claudius sends Hamlet away to England to be murdered when he suspects that Hamlet is on toRead More Madness and Insanity in Shakespeares Hamlet - From Obsession to Insanity1006 Words   |  5 PagesFrom Obsession to Madness in Hamlet      Ã‚   In Shakespeares play Hamlet, there are several questions that come to the readers mind regarding the emotional state of Hamlet.   Was Hamlet really suffering from madness, as many of his friends and family thought?   Was he mad or just pretending to be mad?   Did Hamlet start out pretending to be mad, and his obsession drove him to madness?   The reader gets insight into Hamlets mental status through other characters and through Hamlet himself. If the characters