Hamlet, the cornerstone character of Shakespeare 's Hamlet, is thought to be the most complex character of English literature. This characterization is often due to the fact that Hamlet is thought to be mad. The depth at which Hamlet’s thoughts reach is far superior to those around him, leaving him misunderstood. Despite what scholars tend to think, Hamlet was too intelligent for the other characters to interpret his thoughts, words, and actions in any other way than madness. Hamlet is thought to be insane by many of the characters throughout the play, as well as by several scholars who have analyzed the play. When Hamlet speaks, he often does so at such a high and complex level that many think that he is saying these things out of insanity, rather than out of true genius. When Hamlet said that: HAMLET. A man may fish with the worm that hath Eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of That worm. (4.2.27-29) he is not saying something random, he …show more content…
It was unusual for someone of such high status to show the expert performers how they should perform a play. It was also strange because of the fact that Hamlet requested such an unusual play topic (3.2.1-273). This action, while seemingly insane from far away, was truly ingenious. It allowed Hamlet to see whether or not his uncle was truly guilty of killing his father, which is what Hamlet wanted as he did not wish to act and be punished without knowing whether or not his uncle really was the one who ended his father’s life so abruptly. For him, this was a way to gain peace of mind. Someone who was mentally unstable would not have thought so rationally. Someone like that would have threatened their uncle’s life in order to see if that person was guilty, adding to Hamlet’s ways of complex
“I plead guilty by reason of insanity,” is Hamlet’s plea if he was sitting in a modern courtroom. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, it is evident that Hamlet himself is indeed out of his mind. The reader understands the reason for his anger and frustration, but how he “fixes” the situation is beyond a sane mind. To be fair, his madness deals more with emotional instability referred to as melancholy or madness than a person who is incoherent. Hamlet’s madness becomes clear in his actions and thoughts, in his erratic relationship with Ophelia, and in the murder of Polonius.
death when his mother and the king enter the room and question him on his
Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Hamlet undergoes a transformation from sane to insane while fighting madness to avenge his father’s death. The material that Shakespeare appropriated in writing Hamlet is the story of a Danish prince whose uncle murders the prince’s father, marries his mother, and claims the throne. The prince pretends to be feeble-minded to throw his uncle off guard, then manages to kill his uncle in revenge. Shakespeare changed the emphasis of this story entirely, making his Hamlet a philosophically minded prince who delays taking action because his knowledge of his uncle’s crime is so uncertain.
Hamlet: Hamlet's Sanity & nbsp; & nbsp; “Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do. their bounds divide.” Though John Dryden's quote was not made in regard to William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it relates very well to the argument of whether or not Hamlet went insane. When a character such as Hamlet is under scrutiny, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what state he is in at. particular moments in the play.
Here we can see that Hamlet had told Ophelia earlier in the scene how deeply he
with the dark side of humanity. In the very beginning of Act 1 scene i the
Shakespeare's tragic hero, Hamlet, and his sanity can arguably be discussed. Many portions of the play supports his loss of control in his actions, while other parts uphold his ability of dramatic art. The issue can be discussed both ways and altogether provide significant support to either theory. There are indications from Hamlet throughout the play of his mind's well being.
While Hamlet was being in his "antic disposition" stage it allowed him to do several things that he otherwise would not be able to do if everyone thought he was in a normal state. The purpose of Hamlet feigning madness is in order to be undercover and see for certain if what has been told to him by the ghost is true. By not revealing the fact that he is not insane, he is able to get more information about the death of his father. Did his uncle kill his father and how can he get his mother away from his uncle are what Hamlet is set out to find.
If it weren’t for Hamlet’s insanity, the King (Claudius), would have obviously known that something was up with his nephew, and surely have him killed. If Hamlet didn’t act so he made his uncle believe that he was insane, then the King would have seen it in Hamlet’s eyes that he knew the truth. Think about it... in today's society, if someone thinks you’re crazy, you can say anything and get away with it. For example, someone can notion the slightest bit of sexual harassment, and get in a lot of trouble. Whereas someone who seems obviously insane, can say a hundred things that suggest sexual harassment and get away with it. Look at all the trials today! Murderers are constantly pleading in court to experiencing temporary insanity, and getting away with it! If you are believed to be insane, you can get away with anything. That is what was on Hamlet’s mind. It was truly an ingenious plan.
If one truly analyzes the play one will notice that Hamlet’s madness only manifests itself when he is around certain characters. Hamlet’s behavior differs when he is around people he trusts versus people he does not trust. His behavior is irrational when he is around Polonius, Claudius, Ophelia, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz, and Gertrude. However, when Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, The ...
Throughout the novel, William Shakespeare takes his readers through many twists and turns and several of the characters exhibit odd or unnatural behavior, most noticeably Hamlet. However, it leaves readers questioning whether Hamlet’s “antic disposition” is genuine or if it is fabricated. Many may argue that Hamlet is truly mad since it eventually results in his downfall, but there are several reasons suggesting that Hamlet’s madness is feigned. While he appears to be a lunatic on the outside, Hamlet is sane, as seen through his ability to investigate his father’s murder, gain new information, plot against other characters in the novel, and discover the truth.
When it comes to Shakespeare's Hamlet, the debate about Hamlet’s sanity is constant. When only using the text, the argument is ceaseless. Nothing points directly to either side since the reader can see no emotion, no emphasis, no expressions. They have nothing but a monotone dialogue. Rather, the answer to Hamlet’s insanity varies with each performance.
In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, there is much debate over whether Prince Hamlet is truly mad or feigning madness. Based on his actions and context clues, one can see that Hamlet is perfectly sane, if not a prodigy. His intellect, philosophical ideas, quick wit, and clever strategies makes it clear to readers that his "madness" is merely a masquerade.
To die, would be to abandon this garden suffocated by weeds. To take one's life, is to alleviate turmoil from the heart. Although extremely tempting, Hamlet cannot, therefore will not commit suicide. For he believes God "had… fixed / his canon 'gainst self-slaughter!" (line 131-132 p.166). With this in his mind he drags his burden deeper and deeper into a pit of agony. Inflicted upon him were the excruciatingly painful blows of his father's death and the incestuous marriage of his mother and uncle. Hamlet held his father with high esteem calling him an excellent king and Hyperion. He resents his "more than kin, and less than kind" (line 65 p.165) stepfather, exclaiming, "So excellent a king, that was, to this! / Hyperion to a satyr" (line 139-140 p. 166). He not only shows resentment towards his uncle, Claudius, but is also beset with anguish over his mother's hasty marriage, crying out, "She married O, most wicked speed, to post / with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! / It is not nor it cannot come to good: / But break, my heart" (line 166-169 p.167). Then, the spirit of King Hamlet visits Elsinor to reveal to his son, "the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." (lines 39-40 p.172). The spirit asks, "If thou didst ever the dear father love -- revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Hamlet must avenge his father's unnatural and horrible death! He swears to revenge but delays his vengeance missing opportunities one right after the other. In the Shakespearean play, Hamlet, the conflict comes from Hamlet's Christian and moral beliefs and his need to avenge his father's murder. Instead of storming into Claudius' room to kill him after hearin...
The tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare is about Hamlet going insane and reveals his madness through his actions and dialogue. Hamlet remains one of the most discussed literary characters of all time. This is most likely due to the complex nature of Hamlet as a character. In one scene, Hamlet appears happy, and then he is angry in another and melancholy in the next. Hamlet’s madness is a result of his father’s death which was supposedly by the hands of his uncle, Claudius. He has also discovered that this same uncle is marrying his mom. It is expected that Hamlet would be suffering from some emotional issues as result of these catastrophes. Shakespeare uses vivid language, metaphors, and imagery to highlight how Hamlet’s madness influences several important aspects of his life including his relationships and the way he presents himself.