Theme Of Insanity In Hamlet

It is often believed that an appropriate response to reality is to go insane. For Hamlet, this idea seems suitable given his circumstances with his family in Denmark. Written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet dwells on important themes such as revenge, death, and insanity through many characters in the story; Hamlet in particular. After discovering the truth of his father’s death, Hamlet tells his trusted friend, Horatio, that no matter how crazy he acts or whatever strange things he says, it is all pretend. Hamlet fakes this insanity in order to learn the truth of his uncle, Claudius, and find out if he did kill his father. Despite this plan, the effects of Hamlet’s actions spiral out of control, ruining the lives of those around him. With the untimely death of his father, the quick remarriage of his mother,

After watching the play, Gertrude calls on Hamlet to talk, but the two end up fighting. While arguing with Gertrude over Claudius and their incestuous marriage, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, the father of Ophelia and Laertes, who was ordered to spy on the pair. Critic Theodore Lidz believes that “it is not her father's murder that has driven her mad but, rather, his murder by Hamlet”, the person she believed that she would marry one day. Hamlet’s actions have driven her insane. Earlier in the novel, Ophelia was told to reject any letters and affection sent her way from Hamlet. At the same time, Hamlet decides to go ‘mad’, and Ophelia is led to believe that she is the reason behind his madness. Now that her father is dead from the hands of the man she loved, who is Ophelia supposed to listen to now? She is so distraught that madness is the only option for her. Although “Hamlet slays Polonius by mistake; he [has] not, like Claudius, committed a premeditated murder for his own advancement” (Lidz). Hamlet is, however, worthy to blame for Ophelia’s