Madness In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Words: 890
Pages: 4
Open Document
Madness is an odd thing. It can take over someone's mind and cause them to do things they wouldn't normally do. The exact definition of madness in the case that we’re looking at is defined as a state of severe mental illness-not used technically. In most instances, madness is triggered by a series of tragedies or events that can alter one's emotions in a negative way. Some synonyms of madness include insanity, derangement, and rage. In Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's famous plays, it is widely debated whether Hamlet was truly drawn to madness or if it was all an act.
Madness, was it real or all an act, that's the question. It all starts when Hamlet's father was murdered and Hamlet is asked by the ghost of his father to seek revenge on who killed …show more content…
Although many believe Hamlet crossed into insanity, he always kept the goal in mind and never lost sight of what he wanted to happen. Some people still might say “well look at him, listen to what's he's saying, he’s gone mad, etc.”, but that would be wrong because Hamlet had a mastermind and he knew what he was doing. Also, if Hamlet was truly insane, he would have been insane the whole play (or every scene like Ophelia), but he wasn't. One scene, he would act insane and deranged and the next he would be completely fine and acting normal. He would act fine around the people who he said his plan to, so this proves he was not truly mad, but it was all a hoax created by Hamlet himself. He would act fine around Horatio and Gertrude, which he said his plan to. “That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft” (Act III, Scene IV, 203-204). This is where Hamlet told his mother, Gertrude, that he is not actually driven by madness but is pretending. He then tells Gertrude to not say anything to Claudius, because it would then ruin his whole plan. Not only did everybody think he was going mad, but they all thought it was for different reasons. This made Hamlet’s plan run much more smoothly because he didn’t have to worry about anybody or anything but his
Show More

Related Documents: Madness In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Madness And Insane In Shakespeare's Hamlet

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet creates a plan to avenge his father’s death. His father was killed by his uncle Claudius and Hamlet was enraged. As he creates this plan to get revenge, he acts as any child who lost someone: depressed. Though, he had a reasonable reaction to this action, he also acted mad. Hamlet’s plan to get revenge consists of acting as though he is mad to give him an advantage over Claudius and to give an explanation for his longing depression and distance. Throughout the play…

Words 1113 - Pages 5

Shakespeare Major Paper

many of Shakespeare’s plays, one of the central themes with which he provides his readers is the topic of madness and insanity. In Karin S. Coddon’s, “Such Strange Desygns”: Madness, Subjectivity, and Treason in Hamlet and Elizabethan Culture, the author depicts the reasons behind the psychosis of Shakespeare’s characters and what led to their insanity. The author expresses insight for not only the themes of madness in Hamlet but also helps explain the aspect of madness in one Shakespeare’s other plays…

Words 2852 - Pages 12

hamlet essay

Hamlets Insanity Hamlet ‘s first impression was when he told is father/uncle “A little more than kin and less than kind”(1.2.65) he first comes off as angry. From the beginning Hamlet is brought to the picture due to a bad occasion. Later it is begun to be seen that all the chaos begins to get to him. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet , Hamlet looses his sanity over time for the reason of the multiple incidents that happen consecutively such as: his fathers murder, his mother and uncles marriage…

Words 712 - Pages 3

Patriarchy Of Ophelia In Hamlet

la femme—find the woman—that is causing it. The sentiment, however, is not new, and it would be unsurprising to find that Dumas takes it from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In Hamlet is the constant theme of women being the key cause of disasters that face Hamlet and other characters. Though much of Shakespeare’s contemporaries probably shared in such sexisms, Hamlet is unique in that it is also rife with commentary on other social hierarchies, such as religion and insanity. Through the character of Ophelia…

Words 986 - Pages 4

David Tennant Character Analysis

In David Tennant portrayal of William Shakespeare’s brooding and dark prince Hamlet, Tennant utilizes his good looks and superior acting skills to bring to life a Shakespeare’s work. Given the modern setting of director Greg Doran variation of the play, we get to see Tennant truly stretch his talents. He’s snarky and self-deprecating: he hates himself, but he hates everyone else, even more. However, Tennant had a tendency to overplay the emotions Hamlet was described to feel during his monologs and…

Words 598 - Pages 3

Hamlet Essay

Hamlet Essay Ophelia’s role in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet is quite confusing. Throughout the play, Ophelia is portrayed as gentle, loyal and obedient, but hides in the background like a supporting actress. She is intended to be Hamlet’s love interest, yet he doesn’t include her in any of his life-changing plans. Ophelia has no major qualities, yet her life and death have an incredible influence on most characters, especially Hamlet. Throughout the entirety of the play, Ophelia…

Words 812 - Pages 4

Hamlet Analytical Essay

had a genius full of strength and fertility, natural and without any spark of good taste and any knowledge of the rules.”-Voltaire Shakespeare’s Hamlet reflects 1601; a period of great change, political tensions and uneasiness affiliated with the attempted monarchal usurping. Hamlet holds profound resonance throughout generations.The construction of the world of Hamlet creates its value and relevance as a text; Shakespeare creates extensive atmosphere through characters, symbols and the juxtaposition…

Words 1288 - Pages 6

AP Literature: The Lives Of Hamlet And Ophelia

8 Hamlet and Ophelia Many esteemed literary works feature foils whose complex lives enhance various traits of the protagonist and the overall plot. In Hamlet, minor character Ophelia is often connected to the life of protagonist Hamlet. Ophelia’s father Polonius closely monitors Hamlet’s every move and Ophelia herself has intimate affairs with Hamlet. Ophelia’s presence and relations with Hamlet serve to amplify the plot and further characterize Hamlet throughout the…

Words 859 - Pages 4

Theme Of Insanity In Shakespeare's Hamlet

The play, Hamlet, was written by William Shakespeare in 1603. The plot of Hamlet is about this Prince of Denmark slowly slipping into madness over his father’s sudden death, or does he? Hamlet’s madness is conceivably one of the most controversial issues of the play. Additionally, the corruption of the family unit and the kingdom in total being misaligned would drive any reasonable person insane. On the surface, Hamlet’s character seen by all characters, is considered insane by the loss of his father…

Words 788 - Pages 4

Madness And Madness In Hamlet

often find themselves in the same position as the one they seek to harm. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, motifs of revenge and madness are portrayed through three characters in particular,one of which, because of the acts of revenge, just goes plan mad. Hamlet, wanting to seem weak, acts mad so he can get revenge. Laertes, so enraged by his father’s death, seeks revenge on Hamlet. Lastly is Ophelia who, because of the revenge and madness all around her, was driven to the brink of sanity herself. Ultimately this…

Words 791 - Pages 4