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Deception as a theme in hamlet
Deception as a theme in hamlet
Deception as a theme in hamlet
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In recent years many novels have been published to highlight the hardships and harsh reality of those suffering from mental disorders. While our knowledge on this issue has increased vastly, strong connections can be draw between classic and modern literature in regards to characters who suffer from these disorders. The novel “Compulsion” by Heidi Ayarbe, tells the story of a teenage boy with severe OCD. This novel authenticates the many sickening facets of OCD, and sheds a realistic and much needed light on what it is actually like to suffer from a mental illness. In a similar vein, the tragic play, “Hamlet”, shows how illness can be bred from traumatic events, and how it can lead to pain and loss for not only those suffering from an illness, …show more content…
after meeting his father’s ghost, and learning of his horrific death incited by his uncle, Hamlet becomes both enraged and delusional by both his uncle and his mother betrayal of his father. Hamlet’s paranoia is most evident when he kills Polonius; Hamlet was under the impression that his uncle was spying on him and his mother, out of rage and delusion he decides to kill him before he even realizes who it was. “What’s this, a rat? I’ll bet a buck he’s a dead rat now. (he stabs his sword through the tapestry and kills Polonius)” This flagrant behavior can most closely be related to the symptoms of psychotic depression. “Psychotic depression patients typically display anhedonia (cannot experience pleasure), psychomotor retardation, loss of interest, poor concentration, delusions of guilt, disease, and feelings of impending disaster or worthlessness. Apart from the psychotic features, PD has a distinct symptomatology that sets it apart from non-PD cases, which involves rumination, psychomotor disturbances in the form of agitation or retardation, insomnia, perplexity and cognitive dysfunction.” (Rattue). By act three of the play it is revealed that the visions Hamlet has of his father’s ghost are merely lucid visions created out of his own imagination. He claims to see the ghost, yet his mother cannot see it; “...Look, he’s going out the door right now!” “This is only a figment of your imagination. Madness is good at creating hallucinations.” The ghost of Hamlet’s father is not only merely a figment of his imagination, but also is the driving force behind Hamlet seeking revenge on Claudius. Research has shown that psychotic depression often causes people to experience delusions that push them towards certain actions.”The delusions or hallucinations of people who have psychotic depression often involve beliefs, voices, or visions telling them that they are worthless or evil. In some cases, people
The Tragedy of Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare about a young prince trying to avenge his father’s death. In the beginning of the play, young Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father, who tells Hamlet that his uncle, Claudius, killed him. Meanwhile Hamlets mother, Gertrude, has gotten married to said uncle. Now it is Hamlet’s job to kill his Uncle-father to avenge his dead father, a task that may prove to daunting for Hamlet. In Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Hamlet, the author uses diction and syntax to make Hamlet portray himself as mentally insane when in reality, he is sane thorough the duration of the play, tricking the other characters into giving up their darkest secrets.
Hamlet also corrupted by the ghost of his father. After his father’s death, Hamlet mourned over his father and was left dark and bitter. Without even getting an adequate time to mourn he is approached by the ghost of King Hamlet. With Hamlet caught off guard by the ghost and its demands put Hamlet into turmoil. With thoughts of revenge and death, Hamlet is hesitate to make a resolve. The longer it takes for Hamlet to make a decision the greater the corruption takes control of him. The vengeance of the ghost sinks into Hamlet making is madness greater every moment that passes. Hamlet gripped with his own madness withdraws from the world. Unable to make up his mind, he hides from Claudius and won’t reproach him till his resolve is absolute. The crippling madness o...
After King Hamlet’s death, Hamlet confides in Horatio, his trusted friend, that he has seen his father. When Horatio enquires as to where, Hamlet replies, “In my mind’s eye, Horatio” (2.1.185). Shakespeare utilizes the phrase, “mind’s eye,” to describe Hamlet’s sensory experience, a mental visualization of his deceased father. Hallucinations are a coping mechanism used to deal with grief and are a vital part of the human condition. They are common among people who have experienced great trauma or lose. Professor of neurology, Dr. Oliver Sacks writes, “Any consuming passion or threat may lead to hallucinations in which an idea and an intense emotion are embedded. Especially common are hallucinations engendered by loss and grief…Losing a parent, a spouse, or a child is losing a part of oneself…” (231). Life and death are a part of human nature. One may react to the death of a loved one by filling a void, which may provoke hallucinations. Because of Hamlet’s excessive grief, he is haunted by these illusions. He questions his own sanity and doubts the intentions of the ghost. For this reason, Hamlet reframes from taking immediate action as he searches for truth. As he journeys to find what is real, Hamlet encounters
Hamlet is arguably the most famous play written by the highly renowned English playwright, William Shakespeare--a man known in much of the western world as the father of english literature. Part of the reason for this title is for Shakespeare’s ability to take a character, and through a basic plot, transform said character into becoming something that many scholars have debated over for years. Hamlet in this play is this character; a character whose mental instability or sheer lack of perception has lead to countless debate and argument over the actual explanation for the characters behavior. Schizophrenia can be defined as a lasting mental disorder that forms a fundamental impediment in thought and emotion (as well as behaviour). This disorder can then lead to a lack of judgment in perception, and unusual actions and feelings, all in addition to an overall withdrawal from reality and a devolution of personal relationships to delusional perceptions of oneself and his surroundings--in all, schizophrenia is a mental disorder involving the breaking down of the mind and one’s grip on reality (National Library of Medicine). With the above definition, it may at first seem rash to criticize Hamlet and declare that he has Schizophrenia; however, once it is considered the varying degrees in which Schizophrenia can manifest itself, it no longer becomes such a farfetched thought. It must be contended then, that Hamlet is neither insane nor lazy, but merely a man who suffers from Schizophrenic-hallucinations; hallucinations that spiral up the plot into one focused primarily on Hamlet’s search for truth.
At the start of the play, Hamlet is depressed and feels lost over the death of his father. He no longer has trust or respect for his mother and contemplates suicide. Through Claudius killing Hamlet’s father, Hamlet is already affected negatively. It is arguable that Hamlet already began to go crazy as soon as the death of his father occurred. When Hamlet finally meets his father’s ghost he discovers the truth and immediately decides to seek vengeance on his uncle. While the ghost tells Hamlet “Taint not thy mind” (Hamlet: I.v.92). It is arguable that Hamlet’s antic disposition is actually a reflection on is lunacy. While Hamlet pretends to be mentally unstable he harrasses Ophelia in her private closet with “...his knees knocking each other;/ And with a look so piteous in purport/ As if he had been loosèd out of hell/ To speak of horrors” (Hamlet: II.i.81). Hamlet’s father’s murder has sent him into shock, and he is realizing that he must take action and seek revenge on his poisonous and evil uncle. The poison of revenge starts to plague its royalty, and Hamlet’s attitude is changed from being depressed and suicidal, to angry and insane “Oh, from this/ time forth,/ My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Hamlet: IV.iv.65). Hamlet decides to only
Mental illness can be a virus. It attaches to those with wild thoughts, actions, and comprehensions of a world known and unknown. It hits the soul, pulling at once a kind being into anxiety, pain and loss. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, his main character, Hamlet, comes down with the illness. It enters him through actions by friends, enemies, and even his own family. The hardest thing to understand is whether Hamlet's insanity is completely real, or an act put on to win revenge. However, no matter what the reality of his psychotic mind is, the real question is what brought this whole thing on. In 1601 when Shakespeares Hamlet was written, Hamlet would be diagnosed with suffering from melancholy, but with today's high technology and knowledge he would of been diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. In Shakespeare’s time there was no concept of depressive illnesses, although melancholy was well known during his time.
The reasoning behind Hamlet’s madness is the investigation that occurs with the cause of his father’s death. As Hamlet recognizes the truth associated with his father’s death, he realizes the death was committed by murder. This is revealed in act one, scene five, as his father’s ghost explains that Claudius poisoned him (1.5.64-80). In addition, the circumstances concerning the marriage of Claudius and Gertrude enhances Halmet’s urge to act mad. When Hamlet encounters his father through the figure of a ghost, Hamlet reveals his sanity: “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy/ How strange or off so ever I bear myself/ As I perchance hereafter shall think meet/ To put an antic disposition on” (1.5.187-190). Hamlet describes his madness to be an act, to put on a show. This madness allows for Hamlet to advance his intention of finding out the truth behind his father's death. As Hamlet presents this form of madness, it allows him to advance his plan on killing his stepfather, Claudius. Claudius believes that Hamlet is mad, although he does not know the reason for why he is mad. This allows for Hamlet to create a plan to kill Clausius without many questions being asked. In act two, Hamlet admits that he can alter his madness: “I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly I know a hawk from handsaw” (2.2.390-391). With this information, the suggestion is that Hamlet is clever in the way he acts. During the beginning of the play, some of the characteristics of Hamlet are identified. The explanation of Hamlet being a student and attending university provides the audience with information that as a character, Hamlet has an abundance of knowledge. As Hamlet conducts his form of madness and the plan for the death of Claudius, his intelligence characteristics are displayed. The act of a madman creates successful opportunities for Hamlet as other characters reveal
It’s clear that the characters in Hamlet are suffering from some kind of mental illness. Some more serious than others, but given all of their backgrounds, it’s clear to see why. Having to deal with things like murder, your uncle becoming your father, and the girl you love killing herself becomes a lot to handle. The story begins with King Hamlet’s funeral where we later find out that Prince Hamlet’s uncle is marrying his mother and claiming the throne as his own. Months pass and Hamlet is still noticeably upset about his father’s passing and he’s been acting very strange. He’s then visited by the ghost of his late father, when he learns that his uncle killed his father. Prince Hamlet swears to his father that he will get revenge for his untimely
Throughout the Shakespearian play, Hamlet, the main character is given the overwhelming responsibility of avenging his father’s "foul and most unnatural murder" (I.iv.36). Such a burden can slowly drive a man off the deep end psychologically. Because of this, Hamlet’s disposition is extremely inconsistent and erratic throughout the play. At times he shows signs of uncontrollable insanity. Whenever he interacts with the characters he is wild, crazy, and plays a fool. At other times, he exemplifies intelligence and method in his madness. In instances when he is alone or with Horatio, he is civilized and sane. Hamlet goes through different stages of insanity throughout the story, but his neurotic and skeptical personality amplifies his persona of seeming insane to the other characters. Hamlet comes up with the idea to fake madness in the beginning of the play in order to confuse his enemies. However, for Hamlet to fulfill his duty of getting revenge, he must be totally sane. Hamlet’s intellectual brilliance make it seem too impossible for him to actually be mad, for to be insane means that one is irrational and without any sense. When one is irrational, one is not governed by or according to reason. So, Hamlet is only acting mad in order to plan his revenge on Claudius.
Not only did Hamlet contemplates suicide but also suffered from an overwhelming sadness “Neither [his] black clothes, nor [his] dear mother, nor [his] heavy sigh, nor [his] weeping, nor [his] downcast eyes, nor [his] other displays of grief, can show how [he] really feel[s]” (Shakespeare 25). The Prince of Denmark also suffered from a second psychological illness bipolar disorder. He started showing symptoms of this disorder after the ghost of his dead father appeared and told him that it was Hamlet 's own uncle who had poisoned him, and that he must avenge his death. This news left Hamlet unstable he began to second guess himself and the other around him, paranoid he began to think “The Ghost [he] saw maybe the devil, and the devil has the power to assume a pleasing disguise, so [the ghost] maybe taking advantage of [his] weakness and sadness to bring about my damnation” (Shakespeare 133). Among paranoia, massive mood swings and changes in behavior were also symptoms he showed for bipolarism. Becoming extremely rude and inconstance towards his love interest are examples of the changes in behavior and mood swings. at the
The creation of a stressful psychological state of mind is prevalent in the story “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, as well as, Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”, Ophelia’s struggles in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, and the self-inflicted sickness seen in William Blake’s “Mad Song”. All the characters, in these stories and poems, are subjected to external forces that plant the seed of irrationality into their minds; thus, creating an adverse intellectual reaction, that from an outsider’s point of view, could be misconstrued as being in an altered state due to the introduction of a drug, prescribed or otherwise, furthering the percep...
All of the madness in the play originates from Hamlet and the meeting with his father’s ghost. Here, Hamlet discovers the truth of his father’s death and the emotional affairs between Hamlet’s uncle, the now King, and his widowed mother. Despite the Ghost’s warning to leave his mom out of the problem, Hamlet confronts his mother about the events preceding his father’s death and the current state of the royal court. All the while, hiding behind a nearby curtain Polonius listens to the conversation. The way Hamlet is acting frightens the Queen and she cries out for help. Polonius in turn shouts giving away his hiding place. Unsheathing his sword, Hamlet leaps towards the wall hanging and stabs through it, killing Polonius who Hamlet mistakes as the King. He returns to his mother, and continues ranting to her about the differences between his murdered father and uncle. Then, the Ghost appears to Hamlet and chides him for the rough way he’s been treating his mother. At the sight of Hamlet’s unseen conversation, the Queen
Hamlet's public persona is a facade he has created to carry out his ulterior motives. The outside world's perception of him as being mad is of his own design. Hamlet is deciding what he wants others to think about him. Polonius, a close confidant of the King, is the leading person responsible for the public's knowledge of Hamlet's madness. The idea that Hamlet is mad centers around the fact that he talks to the ghost of his dead father. He communicates with his dead father's ghost twice, in the presence of his friends and again in the presence of his mother. By being in public when talking to the ghost, the rumor of his madness is given substance.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the main character, Hamlet, is often perceived by the other characters in the play as being mentally unbalanced because he acts in ways that drive them to think he is mad. Hamlet may very well be psychotic; however, there are times when he “feigns insanity” in order to unearth the truth surrounding his father's death. This plan seems to be going well until Hamlet's mental state slowly begins to deteriorate. What began as an act of insanity or antic disposition transitions from an act to a tragic reality. After studying Hamlet's actions, one will notice that as the play progresses, his feigned insanity becomes less and less intentional and devolves into true mental illness.
When he is having his discussion with his mother, he can sense her view of his sanity decreasing and cries, “Ecstasy?My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time and makes as healthful music. It is not madness that I have uttered” in a desperate attempt to get her to accept his words about Claudius as the truth. What causes her to lose her faith in him is when he describes how he can see the ghost of his father when she cannot. Schizophrenia is associated with having hallucinations, “things a person sees, hears,...that no one else can” (“What is Schizophrenia?, 2). However, the audience knows that Hamlet is not the only one to have seen the Ghost because Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo saw it first and were the ones who told Hamlet about it in the first place. Also, schizophrenia is known to also create delusions, “beliefs that are not true or logical” (“What is Schizophrenia?, 2). This also does not relate to Hamlet as Claudius admits to feeling guilty for his “cursed hand...thicker than itself with his brother’s blood” (III.iii.44-45). The audience is given proof that both what the Ghost told Hamlet was the truth, and that the Ghost is not simply a figure of Hamlet’s imagination, as he would not have known about his father’s death being a murder had it been. Therefore, his beliefs are sane and his vengeance is