Hamlet Madness Essay

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In Williams Shakespeare Hamlet, the discerning eye of madness is very evident. As readers follow the play, they will see how Hamlet, Prince of Denmark uses madness as a tool to avenge his father’s death. It is important to point out how Hamlet’s actions are overlooked because of this “madness”. Hamlet’s eccentric behavior can arguably be viewed as rational, or at least having some degree of rational thinking. In the play Hamlet, the true intentions of Hamlet's actions are unnoticed by the other characters. Hamlet's deceptive insanity impacts vital parts of the play such as avenging his dad's death, manipulating Ophelia, and creating a domino effect for the crucial parts of the play.
All the madness truly started with Hamlet’s …show more content…
When Ophelia returns the gifts he had given her, Hamlet denies ever giving Ophelia anything. “My lord, I have remembrances of yours, That I have longèd long to redeliver; I pray you now receive them.” “No, not I. I never gave you aught.”(III, i, 95-100). He is making believe that he never gave Ophelia anything, which sequentially makes it seem as if he never had feelings for her. To make matters worse, Hamlet states that he did love her once but not anymore. “Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof” (III, i, 112-116). Ophelia is upset, confessing that she was betrayed by him, and he quickly bolts into a rage. He tells her to get to a nunnery rather than be a breeder of sinners. “Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (III, i, 118). His rage accumulates as he begins to criticize women in general. Ophelia is horrified by Hamlet’s words and mourns the loss of a man she loved. “Oh, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown! The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword” (III, i, 150-153). Despite Hamlet’s inappropriate behavior, his actions can be viewed as rational since it both dismiss the idea that he is in love with Ophelia,
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