in "Hamlet". What responses do you as part of a modern audience have to the depiction of madness?

Hamlet is a tragedy written in the late sixteenth century. Webster's dictionary describes madness as: the quality or state of being mad: as a: rage b: insanity c: extreme folly d: ecstasy, enthusiasm. In this essay I will be exploring Hamlet's madness and the other characters' reaction to said madness. I will also be commenting on how many of the points described in Webster's dictionary are exhibited in Hamlet's madness.

The strongest point about madness in "Hamlet" is that we as a reader are never quite sure whether Hamlet is actually going mad or whether it is all merely part of his plan. In act 1 scene 5 Hamlet is confronted with the ghost of his dead father. The dead king Hamlet tells his son of his "foul and most unnatural murder". The ghost of King Hamlet tells Young Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother and is to avenge his father's death, "if thou didst ever thy dear father love, revenge his foul and most unnatural murder". After witnessing this apparition and hearing its plea to be avenged, Hamlet vows to act mad "as I perch

The use of madness in the plot can be seen on two levels. Firstly, on the more superficial level of the plot itself, where Hamlet uses madness to disarm his enemy, his fathers brother, Claudius, so that he has more time to affirm the Ghost's allegations. On a deeper level, this madness reflects the nature of Hamlet's psychological character, and poses questions of his behaviour.

ance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on" (act 1 scene 5 lines 171-172). This false madness can be used as a veil for Hamlet to hide behind. For instance people will speak more freely in his presence as they will think he is mad and therefore will think he is making no sense of their conversations. If he is caught out in any respect he can merely ham up the madness and therefore in effect get himself "off the hook". A factor to consider on the subject of Hamlet's madness and whether it is genuine or calculated, is the way in which Hamlet talks to certain characters. A good example of this is the fashion in which he talks to Polonius. Polonius asks "do you know me, my lord?" Hamlet replies " excellent well, y'are a fishmonger". This would seem odd to Polonius as Hamlet knows he is not a fishmonger; this further illustrates Hamlet's madness. In actual fact, what Hamlet says to Polonius is a well structured, carefully thought out attack, drenched in satire. In Elizabethan times a fishmonger was slang for pimp, so Hamlet is calling Polonius a pimp. It is in these carefully constructed jibes that we can see that Hamlet is still in control of his scruples.

In conclusion, Shakespeare uses madness as a veil of confusion. As a reader we are never entirely sure of the state of Hamlet's mind. We are not sure if he has slipped into real madness or whether it is all part of his cunning plan. "For to define true madness, what is't but to be nothing else but mad". Madne

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ophelia Hamlet, , King Hamlet, Hamlet Ophelia, Hamlet Finally, Hamlet Polonius, Ophelia People, Regan Claudius, People Shakespeare's, King Lear, hamlet's madness, madness hamlet, ophelia's father, act 1 scene, duel hamlet, hamlet ophelia, hamlet tells, hamlet's father, webster's dictionary, unnatural murder, foul unnatural murder, king hamlet tells, 1 scene 5, king hamlet,
Approximate Word count = 1260
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)