hamlet mad?
Critics often call William Shakespeare's Hamlet the greatest of all his tragedies. The main character, Hamlet is, without a doubt, a prominent factor to the play's greatness. This witty young prince exhibits a confusing, duplicitous nature throughout the play. The beginning of the play portrays Hamlet's melancholy mood. He is in a weak mental state as he becomes caught in between love, grief, and vengeance. When Hamlet sees his father's ghost, he admits that he is not emotionally ready to fulfill his father's request: " The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!" (Ham 1.5.188-189) "It is probable that his internal dilemmas and psychological depression has plunged him into emotional insanity (Taylor 531)." Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet's state of mind changes. He can be seen, to be or not to be mad by different characters at different stages. His actions towards Ophelia and Gertude, the two women in his life, prove to be inconsistent. He often acts madly and becomes calm and rational an instant later. The controversial theme of Hamlet's sanity can be arguably discussed. Many portions of the play support his uncontrollable actions, while other parts uphold hi
But when Ophelia returns his gifts, he swears to have never loved her. Hamlet's erratic behaviour towards his mother also upholds his insanity. He has violent outbursts towards her and even lashes out at her until she is in tears. In this famous bedchamber scene, Hamlet finally reveals his madness. He is the only one who sees his father's ghost. Every other time the ghost has appeared, another character has seen it. Here, Gertude no longer doubts his madness. Southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw." (Ham 2.2.376-377) Make up my sum..." (Ham 5.1.263-265) The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword;" (Ham 3.1.152-153) And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose either good or bad but thinking makes it so..." (Ham 2.2.249-250) Throughout the whole play, Hamlet never doubts his sanity. He tells his mother that he is essentially not in madness "But mad in craft" (Ham 3.4.190). He even admits to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of his feigning insanity:
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Approximate Word count = 1302
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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