Hamlets Insanity

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The Darkness of Insanity
Insanity is an ever-growing black hole that envelops the pitiful mind of its victim. The mental condition of Hamlet has been well-debated throughout the years, even though in Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet admits that his madness is an elaborate scheme. Many see this fact as a way to discredit the idea of Hamlet's insanity, but one should also take into consideration the amount of proven psychopaths who constantly admit to their sanity. Through his actions and emotions prevalent throughout the play, Hamlet indeed proves his insanity despite his denial of it. It is quite obvious that Hamlet possesses a troubled mind resulting from a gross state of melancholy, which later leads to him becoming disillusioned. Another fact to strengthen the idea of his insanity is his treatment of his beloved girlfriend, Ophelia, and his loving mother, Gertrude. One might find it difficult to ponder the thought of any sane person denouncing their love for their lover without showing the slightest hint of sadness. However, Hamlet does perform this wicked deed. The protagonist's mind is also filled with enough incestuous thoughts of his very own mother to disturb the audience. The most troubling and powerful piece of evidence to prove his insanity is that he does not feel the slightest twinge of guilt nor the smallest sliver of remorse after he murders three innocent bystanders in cold blood. The human conscience is what separates humans from animals because humans have the ability to question evil deeds such as murder, yet Hamlet's conscience remains untouched after the murders of three people. The lack of guilt should be proof enough that Hamlet's mind is convoluted. Throughout the play, Hamlet continuously shows characteristics that are closely related to madness. One of the more prominently shown characteristics is depression, which is also known to psychiatrists as the gateway to insanity. The depression caused by the murder of his father runs rampant during the course of the play and helps to lead him down to his ultimate path of ruin. Hamlet's depression is so powerful and visible that it begins to disturb his mother: "Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not forever with thy vailed lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common – all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." (Shakespeare 1).

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