Is Hamlet Loony?

A detailed Summary of Is Hamlet Loony?

Throughout Shakespeare's play "Hamlet", Hamlet is described as 'mad' by the other

characters: as he encounters the ghost of his father in Act I, as he kills Polonius and

confronts his mother in Act III, and ultimately when he confronts Laertes and Claudius in

the final scene. But this 'madness' is a broad term used by the characters, and Shakespeare,

to refer to the actions taken by Hamlet while he is in this state of mind. With all things

taken into account, this lunacy can actually be seen to be a facade put on by him, a type of

feigned madness meant to deceive and entrap Claudius.

Some of the most obvious evidence of Hamlet's mental confidence and lack of

insanity is when he is "talking to himself". Shakespeare uses his soliloquies and asides to

demonstrate this to the audience, but his appearance of confusion, indecision and

nervousness leads the other characters to label him 'mad'. This is established quite early in

the play, and much of the following action revolves around Hamlet's scheming under the

disguise of 'madness'. Shakespeare shows that 'madness' can be used describe something

as trivial as Hamlet's first signs of lunacy, as well as true insanity as we see in Ophelia.

match for Claudius' but Hamlet achieves the revenge he aimed for. Laertes becomes a

Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes into the play.

as the play progresses, perhaps as a result of his obsessions while plotting his actions. As

but by this point, Hamlet is more composed, and he has a clear end in sight.

determined, clever and courageous: an impression that Shakespeare confirms by

more decisive Hamlet who is quick to avenge his father, demonstrating none of the

He is shaken but becomes determined to act in some way and starts the scheming that

scheming. Being classified as mad by Polonius only provides Hamlet with the time

is the passion and obsession that Hamlet displays in later

therefore see the development of Hamlet's 'madness' more roundly. Hamlet's world

Approximate Word count = 1026
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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