Hamlet Mad

Sanity: Boundaries of the Mind The mind is a beautiful thing. The boundaries that someone can extend their rationality is different in each and every person. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the balance of sanity and madness is tested. Hamlet’s way of thinking is changed, but in a way that his personality is only a front. By looking at the different events that Hamlet overcame, we can observe the passion for acting that many readers do not come across; knowing the importance of acting is imperative when questioning Hamlet’s sanity, since he is only acting insane, and is rational and in control of himself throughout the play.

Every character that had anything to do with Hamlet believed that he was truly mad. This was confirmed when Hamlet claimed to have seen his father’s ghost. For a more in depth example, when Claudius was trying to find out what had gotten Hamlet to turn mad, he used Ophelia as bait. Hamlet turned Ophelia down where as in the beginning of the play, all he wanted was Ophelia to love him back. “Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof.

There are many different reasons for a major theme of Hamlet to be considered that of madness. Seeking revenge for his father’s death Hamlet acts with passion to give off the perception that he is indeed mad. This leads to the question many people ask: is Hamlet truly insane, or is he just acting? As D.J. Snider writes in his article entitled “Hamlet” in The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, “[physicians] carefully reckon up the symptoms and show the various stages, evidently regarding Hamlet as a treatise on insanity” (73).

Hamlet was always annoyed with Polonius and his garrulous speeches, but reacted not in an irrational way, but to the contrary, with the most simple, though rude, coherent answers. If Hamlet were truly mad, he would not have been able to give make such a guileless and processed ... ... middle of paper ... ...te plots, such as the play. Hamlet’s feigned insanity was all a part of his overall scheme to avenge his father, King Hamlet. In addition, Hamlet’s feigned insanity fooled Polonius into believing that he was simply mad with love for Ophelia. Because Polonius was the king’s advisor, he was greatly trusted by King Claudius.

The Shakespearean play, Hamlet, illustrates how perfectly organized plan can work precisely throughout the process but end up being a complete failure. The main Character, Hamlet, manifests his feeling through a behavior that was considered as madness. After meeting his father´s ghost, Hamlet shows signals of madness, but moreover, in deeper reflection of Hamlet´s action, his sanity is extremely clear throughout the play. Even though he was considered as insane by most of the people, we acknowledge his statement warning Horatio of a possible change in his behavior by putting “an antic disposition on”, which certainly ratifies, in addition with the manner with which he acts when he faces difficult events, that he wasn’t mad at all. It is important to point out that the reason why Hamlet acted this way is because of his father´s tragic death.

His feigned madness is maintained throughout the entire play because it allows him to follow through with his plans, which makes Hamlet not only completely sane, but truly genius. Maybe Hamlet thought too much, but he thought (and acted) as only a sane man could. He commits no actions whatsoever without much thought and reason, and he is far too organized, particular, and articulate to be proclaimed insane. His one downfall is also responsible of his many successes: his intelligence. Hamlet thinks far too much and has too much of a conscience to behave as a madman would, and going on a murdering rampage to kill Claudius.

HAMLET Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, is one of the most analyzed plays in existence due to its vivid dramatization of melancholy and insanity. There is sufficient evidence displayed in the play that Hamlet deliberately feigns his fits of madness. He puts on this act to deceive people such as the King and his following attendants into thinking he was no threat. Hamlet needed to distract attention from the investigation concerning his father’s death so he could baffle those who intend on preventing him in his quest for revenge. In light of the fact that Hamlet had claimed to “put an antic disposition on” (1.5.180) his choice to do so actually lead to his downfall.

This madness is not, however, sustained when guard is unnecessary. Maybe Hamlet thought too much, but he thought as a sane man would. He commits no actions without reason, and he is far too astute and organized to be proclaimed mentally unstable. Hamlet?s portrayal of a madman is also very complex because it allows not only his points to be made, but in a believably insane way, which contrasts greatly with the expected ramblings of a truly insane person. Bibliography: Shakespeare, William.

151). Those words further emphasize the complete betrayal and the disastrous affects Othello's over trust in one man had on his life. The Tragedy of Othello is yet another vehicle through which Shakespeare is able to express his genius as a playwright. He skillfully utilized all of the requirements needed to satisfy Aristotle's requirements for a true tragedy. Shakespeare's brilliant use of language captivates the audience as well as touching them on a personal level because of how understandable the events and human characteristics were.

Hamlet uses his anger against Ophelia to hurt her, which ends with her suicide. Hamlet is the tragic hero of the play because he is a prince with nobility that others look up to and he has a tragic flaw of wrath, which ultimately destroyed himself. Shakespeare did not intend his dark prince to be insane supports the idea that he was intended to be firmly rooted in reason. His anger results in his need to seek revenge on his uncle, the contribution to Ophelia suicide, and finally the death of himself along with many others. In the end Hamlet realized his defect, but also that there was no possible way he could avoid his awful predicament.