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Discuss hamlet's madness
Discuss hamlet's madness
Discuss hamlet's madness
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Mental illness is defined as “any of a broad range of medical conditions that are marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, or emotions to impair normal psychological functioning and cause marked distress or disability and that are typically associated with a disruption in normal thinking, feeling, mood, behavior, interpersonal interactions or daily functioning. ” (Merriam-Webster). When reading William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, it is very clear that both authors created characters that have mental illnesses. William Shakespeare covers many types of mental illnesses in his plays, but in “Hamlet” he focuses on Hamlet's madness and how he uses it to propel the story forward. …show more content…
In “Hamlet” it is said by another character (Polonius) but it is still up to the reader to infer if he actually does have an illness or if Hamlet is putting on a show. Polonius says “Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, ’tis true. Tis true, ’tis pity, And pity ’tis ’tis true” (Shakespeare, 36). However, Poe does not even mention mental illness, psychotic or any other terms to tip off the reader to thinking Montresor has an illness. The reader has to infer and decide on their own if the foreshadowing is a symptom of mental illnesses. The conversation between Montresor and Fortunato "Come, let us go. " "Whither?" "To your vaults. " "My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchresi--" "I have no engagement; --come. " (Poe). The reader knows at this point that Montresor does not like Fortunato, so this conversation foreshadows as well as gives the reader a brief introduction into Montresor’s mental illness. The mental illnesses that Hamlet and Montresor suffer from give them power because both of them are able to hide their true intentions. However, both characters are obvious in their actions that showcase the illness, which gives them the power. In “Hamlet” and "The Cask of Amontillado," Hamlet and Montresor show signs of undiagnosed mental illness which lead them to tragic endings, showing that undiagnosed mental illnesses can …show more content…
Bipolar disorder is commonly underdiagnosed, meaning that “a disorder is often not diagnosed when present and also frequently diagnosed when absent. ” (underdiagnosis). Some hidden symptoms of bipolar are that they are constantly happy. They can be just the opposite by being in a bipolar depressive state, which has the same signs as depression. Having erratic behavior is another hidden symptom because, they have they do not consider the consequences. People can also misdiagnose being irritable because “everyone has bad days”. (health). Bipolar tends to run in families, just like many other medical ailments. If a parent has bipolar, the child has a higher risk, but it is not guaranteed that they are diagnosed
... is a fictional character. This is also true because to categorize a person as ‘mad’ or melancholic there has to be a defined societal norm but that norm is different for everyone making that classification nearly impossible. Hamlets madness also acts as a buffer for speaking the truth so bluntly that it seems impossible to agree upon. His language ensures no one is able to decide if he is sane or not. Ultimately Shakespeare uses Hamlets ‘madness’ to share the truth that humans categorize each other to affirm their own sanity against someone different.
Bipolar Disorder (Formerly known as Manic Depression) is a mental illness linked to alterations in moods such as mood swings, mania, and depression. There is more than one type, Bipolar I and Bipolar II, and the subcategories are divided by the severity of the symptoms seen, such as cyclothymic disorder, seasonal mood changes, rapid cycling disorder and psychosis. Age of onset usually occurs between 15-30 years old with an average onset of 25 years old but it can affect all ages. (Harvard Medical School; Massachusetts General Hospital , 2013) Bipolar disorder affects more than two million people in the United States every year. (Gardner, 2011)
Shakespeare shows Hamlet is going through many mood changes throughout the play. At times it seems he is depressed, hyper, excited and bad-tempered. People would just come to a conclusion that Hamlet simply just went mad during the play. Although, looking closer and during an examination, it is seen to be that Hamlet is showing clear symptoms to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
Riddled with ambiguity by its very nature, the text of William Shakespeare's Hamlet has been a commonly debated subject in literary circles since its first performance. The character Hamlet undergoes intense physical and emotional hardship in his quest for revenge against his despicable uncle. This hardship, some argue, leads to an emotional breakdown and, ultimately, Hamlet's insanity. While this assessment may be suitable in some cases, it falls short in others. Since Hamlet is a play, the ultimate motivation of each of the characters borrows not only from the text, but also from the motivations of the actors playing the parts. In most respects, these motivations are more apt at discerning the emotional condition of a character than their dialogue ever could. Thus, the question is derived: In Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of Hamlet, does the character Hamlet suffer from insanity? Giving halt to the response, this paper will first endeavor to establish what insanity is and will then provide sufficient examples both from the text, film, and Branagh's own musings on his motivations as proof that Hamlet's character, at least in Branagh's version of the play, is not insane.
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
In the beginning of the novel that Hamlet’s spirits aren’t all there, and his soul is disturbed, by the death of his father. He seems to be looking for answers and meaning to explain the unexplainable death of his father and his mother’s abrupt marriage to his uncle, this is where I believe his insanity started. Given that this happened to anyone normal person, they’re mind would be a mess and bitterness and anger would play a huge part in their thoughts. So, yes in a way, I do believe that Hamlet was diseased with temporary insanity.
Shakespeare 's play "Hamlet" is about a complex protagonist, Hamlet, who faces adversity and is destined to murder the individual who killed his father. Hamlet is a character who although his actions and emotions may be one of an insane person, in the beginning of the book it is clear that Hamlet decides to fake madness in order for his plan to succeed in killing Claudius. Hamlet is sane because throughout the play he only acts crazy in front of certain people, to others he acts properly and displays proper prince like behavior who is able to cope with them without sounding crazy, and even after everything that has been going on in his life he is able to take revenge by killing his
In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, various mental illnesses are displayed. The mental illnesses are frequently discussed by various critics. Some believe Hamlet is simply love sick, while others argue he has no disease at all. Poet and Shakespeare contemporary, Ben Jonson says, “If you be sick, your own thoughts make you sick.” Ben connects mind with body to imply that a person’s mental state can relate directly to their physical state. This quote relates directly with Hamlet’s mentality. Hamlet has driven himself to madness and, in his own mind, has made himself sick. Hamlet shows clear signs of clinical depression, and because no one is there to help and support him it only gets worse. A person with depression needs
In Hamlet, he seems to be mad, but there is a question that everyone asks when reading or watching this play “was it, or was it not true that Hamlet was faking his insanity, really suffering, or maybe even both.” First, this is what insanity is: insanity is acting crazy, but not knowing that they’re acting crazy. Also, it’s going through a lot of stress at the same time causing you to act stranger then a normal person. Hamlet was not totally insane. It doesn’t fit.
Hamlet, a Shakespearean character, constantly struggles in a battle with his mind. He leads a very trying life that becomes too much for him to handle. Hamlet experiences hardships so horrible and they affect him so greatly that he is unable escape his dispirited mood. In speaking what he feels, Hamlet reveals his many symptoms of depression, a psychological disorder. While others can move on with life, Hamlet remains in the past. People do not understand his behavior and some just assume he is insane. However, Hamlet is not insane. He only pretends to be mad. Because Hamlet never receives treatment for his disorder, it only gets worse and eventually contributes to his death.
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.
Hamlet throughout the play seems insane but in reality it is only an act to achieve his goal of killing his father's murderer. Hamlet chooses to go mad so he has an advantage over his opponent and since he is the Prince of Denmark certain behavior is unacceptable, so by faking madness he is able to get away with inappropriate sayings and actions. We can see this when he talks to Claudius, Polonius, Ophelia and his mother. When Hamlet talks to Horatio in the first act he says how he is going to "feign madness" and that:
This comment demonstrates his family’s suspicions of his mental illness, and how they are seeking advice from other individuals on the matter. Regardless of what his family believes, Hamlet claims he is not mad and is only putting on an ‘antic disposition.’ Mim has likewise thoughts on her mental illness, as after being diagnosed with psychosis, she states: “People say I’m sick. Dad sure believes it. At his insistence, I’ve been on meds for the past year or so.”
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.
Bipolar disorder can make everyday up and downs seem as severe as flying up Mount Everest and then falling into the Grand Canyon. Hamlet, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet demonstrates several symptoms of bipolar disorder throughout the course of the play. His irritable mood is evident immediately, his obsession with completing impossible goals and excessive involvement in dangerous behaviors ultimately lead to his death, and his shift from manic to depressive phases are as obvious as a scene change. Throughout the Shakespearian tragedy, it is made obvious from the beginning that Hamlet is distraught about his father’s untimely death.