Hamlet States Essay

Submitted By danielleMelissa
Words: 1128
Pages: 5
Open Document
Insanity of Revenge
The act of revenge is simply madness. Through mans biological upbringings the desire for revenge on something or someone who has impaired ones life greatly is innate. Throughout time the human race has been exposed to many historical events of various tragedies in the search and desire of revenge on life altering events. Adding another historical tragedy in the desire for revenge, the play Hamlet written by Shakespeare, uses his main character Hamlet to depict how the yearning for revenge in man brings out much conflict, madness and confusion upon the surface of the one who seeks it. Hamlets depression and desire for revenge led him to his insanity; in the way he acts upon certain events and treats several characters throughout the play, one can see how the act of seeking revenge leads Hamlet to his insanity.
The death of a direct loved one creates the natural emotions of sadness and desolation; in terms of murder one may feel confusion, instability, and mere anger. In the beginning of the play Hamlet immediately expresses his emotions about his fathers death
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the everlasting had not fix’d His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, See to me all the uses of this world!”(Shakespeare 21). From the very beginning, one can see Hamlet moaning about how depressed he has become over his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage to his fathers brother only a short time prior to his decease. With so much anger, confusion and melancholy built up within Hamlet one can only assume his depression will lead to unruly and unexplainable acts.
Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Hamlet: Murder!
Ghost:
Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.
Hamlet: Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge (Shakespeare 51).
After realizing Hamlet’s pure unhappiness the reader is introduced to an apparition of his dead father, who tells him that he was murdered and to seek revenge on his murderer. With no hesitation Hamlet takes it upon himself to agree to a murder. After the ghost informs Hamlet that Claudius had murdered his father he plans his next steps and warns his friends that he will pretend to be a madman. “How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,
As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on”(Shakespeare 58). With the vision of his dead father and the idea that Hamlet will “Pretend” to be mad in seeking revenge on Claudius and prior knowledge to his melancholy, it is only obvious that Hamlet is becoming insane.
Hamlet has been confidently diagnosed as a melancholic, a maniac and both—that is, a manic-depressive; he has been seen as a neurotic, most classically as one with unresolved Oedipal conflicts, but with a variety of other compulsions and obsessions; he has been pronounced a neurasthenic, a hysteric, a type of human degeneracy and a classical case of the malingerer. He has been approached as one who was criminally insane and had the extent of his criminal responsibility assessed (Bynum 392).
With the knowledge of Hamlets possible insanity—in the act of seeing his dead father, agreeing to murder in the search for revenge and his thought of pretending to be mad to seek this revenge, it is only seen further throughout the play how truly mad this act of revenge has made him. “The spirit that I have seen
May be the devil: and the devil hath power
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me” (119). Hamlet is concerned that the ghost may be “the devil” and is trying to tempt him to murder Claudius without plausible cause. Not long before Hamlet states this, was he eager to murder the man who married his mother and
Show More

Related Documents: Hamlet States Essay

Mental State In Hamlet

The mental state of Hamlet has been a hot topic discussed since the early 17th century. The protagonist’s questionable mental state is one of the primary devices which Shakespeare uses to maintain the audience’s interest. Furthermore it is Hamlet’s arguable sanity which allows Shakespeare to explore themes such as drama, romance, tragedy and in some cases humour, therefore it serves to further develop the plot. In scenes where Hamlet puts on his “antic disposition” his actions and choice of words…

Words 1042 - Pages 5

Hamlet: Gun Politics in the United States and United States Constitution Essay

Gun control and the Second Amendment The United States Constitution say that U.S. Citizens have the right to bear arms. Even though this guarantee was written with no constraints, there are now laws that limit certain aspects of gun ownership. The reasons for gun control fall under the flag of public safety. Though there are many safety reasons why private ownership of firearms should be banned, these arguments are outweighed not only by the need for protection, but because the limitation of…

Words 2147 - Pages 9

Essay On Ophelia's Madness In Hamlet

Through the play of Hamlet, relationships are seen as unstable and unreliable. Not only are relationships tested when an insanity scene occurs, but true love and affection is critical as well at this time. This relates to Hamlet, as his repetitive failures of a relationship occur because of his madness. The love Hamlet has for Ophelia is inconsistent, as he does not continue to love her through his insanity moments. At the beginning of the play Hamlet’s affection for Ophelia is seen through Ophelia’s…

Words 649 - Pages 3

Essay on Hamlet: Hamlet and Ghost

deterioration, or the state of declining in excellence, prosperity and health. The unpleasant relationships between many of the characters in Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, are in a state of decay. Images of both disease and decay are used in the play to create the destructing atmosphere, and to further enrich the theme of the reversal of moral order The degradation of Denmark, seen throughout the play is an indication of the moral rottenness that is infecting the state. Although Hamlet intends to act…

Words 1100 - Pages 5

Revenge And Violence In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

the tragedy Hamlet, William Shakespeare discusses his perspective on revenge and violence. He believes that these things lead to tragedy and death, such as senseless killings. This is due to everyone in the play, Hamlet, dying after Hamlet decided that he must seek justice for his father’s death and that he had to restore order to Denmark after everything has been moved asunder. Shakespeare explains his position on revenge and violence through the melancholy and tragic tale of Hamlet. In the tragedy…

Words 1414 - Pages 6

Human Condition In Hamlet

P a g e | 4 Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a complex and multi‐faceted play bringing together many themes. Shakespeare uses the framework of a REVENGE TRAGEDY to convey the ideas of the human condition and what it means to be human, appearances vs reality, social indoctrination vs our free will and the notion of betrayal and corruption. These themes are a reflection on society and humanity as a whole. They are explored through many characters, with some characters representing a key idea s…

Words 1119 - Pages 5

Essay on Novel- Hamlet

" That is the question and moral of the novel- Hamlet. William Shakespeare composed one of the greatest tragedy's of all time in the 1600's. Hamlet struggles to keep the pain inside him trapped, thinking that the miseries of life couldn't be beard. Hamlet turns against Ophelia and thinks of her as a breeder of sinners, which makes Ophelia go insane. Hamlet and Ophelia develop many ways in the book that make them both alike and different. Hamlet and Ophelia have a lot in common. They both share…

Words 591 - Pages 3

Hamlet Movie Comparison

“Hamlet” is one of many brilliant plays written By William Shakespeare. The first copy of “Hamlet” was published in 1603, which makes it extremely difficult for people in today's society to understand Shakespeare's literature. During Shakespeare's generation the English language was very much different from what it is now, which makes it hard for a person in our generation to fully understand Shakespeare's writing. This is why cinema producers always try to re-enact these plays to help people get…

Words 790 - Pages 4

Hamlet faith and doubt essay

“In his disillusionment and doubt, Hamlet believes the world to be a place where it is impossible to have faith in oneself or others” The play ‘Hamlet’ demonstrates the disillusionment and doubt of Hamlet and his new belief that the world is a place where it is impossible to have faith in oneself and others. Hamlet looses faith in those that are closest to him, when he discovers the betrayal and deceitfulness of his family and friends. Through loosing faith in the world around him he becomes disconnected…

Words 1336 - Pages 6

Hamlet - the Importance of Laertes and Fortinbras in Hamlet Essay

The Shakespearean play, Hamlet, is a story of revenge and the way the characters in the play respond to grief and the demands of loyalty. The importance of Fortinbras and Laertes in the play is an issue much discussed, analysed and critiqued. Fortinbras and Laertes are parallel characters to Hamlet, and they provide pivotal points on which to compare the actions and emotions of Hamlet throughout the play. They are also important in Hamlet as they are imperative to the plot of the play and the final…

Words 1309 - Pages 6