Hamlets Madness

A detailed Summary of Hamlets Madness

Shakespeare's Hamlet is a most enigmatic and complex character, his psyche the subject

of more detailed psychoanalysis than any other character in English literature. It is only once in a

great while that the reader of literature comes across a man who fakes madness, and ultimately

immerses himself so deep into this feigned madness to a point of total metamorphosis into a new

being. Hamlet's ostensibly concocted madness ultimately catalyzes the development of his

dormant, inward madness and natural inclination for pretense and dissimulation.

Within Hamlet there are two types of madness: the very apparent outer madness, and a

hidden madness that isn't even realized by Hamlet. The inner madness is the result of the tragedies

within this play; namely, the incestuous marriage of his widowed mother to his uncle and her

brother-in-law which followed the tragic and sudden murder of his father. It is this depression and

anger that set the stage for the rest of the play. Afterall, had he not cared to avenge his father's

death, the words of the ghost would have been totally ignored and there would have been no

reason to feign madness. But because he was hurt, depressed, and incensed, he channeled all his

up, it becomes blindingly clear that Hamlet descends from pretending madness to really being

enseamed bed,/stewed in corruption, honeying and making love/ over the nasty sty-"

Polonius who was standing behind the curtain. His actions are much like a rabid dog attacking

one's nature,' meaning inherent and innate, is close-minded. With a broader meaning of the term,

plagued with his own illness- the illness he created. Following that transitional evolution into a

were unnecessary (though they may be justified, of course). He must have done them, therefore,

that's the end." (IV.iii.20-26)

the body dies it goes through a cycle where it is eaten by worms who devour the flesh for the

attempt to confuse the people of the castle and divert any suspicion that may be targeted at him in

Approximate Word count = 1134
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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