Hamlet
According to Webster's New World Dictionary madness is defined as "mental derangement that makes a person incapable of what is regarded as rational conduct or judgement." There is much madness in Shakespeare's Hamlet; written around 1600, but Prince Hamlet is not included in the insane camp. Throughout the play Hamlet's seemingly irrational behavior served quite rational and sometimes ingenious ends. The Madness of Hamlet is certainly counterfeit and was recognized by Hamlet as being necessary to complete the revenge of the Murder of his father. In act I, scene i we are introduced to the Ghost of Hamlet's slain father. The reader may be more inclined to believe that Hamlet's madness is in fact true if he himself was the only one to view the Ghost. However, there were actually three individuals to whitness the Ghost. Hamlet's sane and trustworthy friend Horatio says "Before my God, I might not this believe/ without the sensible and true avouch/ of mine own eyes" (I. i . 55-57). It was a warning from Horatio that gave Prince Hamlet to fabricate his madness to more easily work out his plan of revenge. Horatio warns Hamlet, "... And there assume some other horri
ble form/ which might deprive your sovereignty of reason,/ and draw you into madness? Think of it " (I. iv. 72-74). Hamlet respected and adamantly listened to his father, so when the Ghost told him "but howsomeever thou pursues this act,/ taint not thy mind." (I. v. 83-84). Hamlet would surely listen and obey these wishes of his father from beyond the grave. Hamlet's first signs of his fraudulent insanity are revealed at a meeting with Ophelia. She describes him as "... No hat upon his head; his stocking's foul'd/ undergarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle/ pale as a shirt; his knees knocking eachother; ..." (II. i. 80-83). It is because of these seemingly insane actions that Polonius believes Hamlet to be truly demented. Polonius asks Ophelia if Hamlet is "Mad for thy love?" (II. i. 86); however already jumped to the conclusion that was indeed neurotic. The more fully convinced Hamlet could persuade the court members that he was insane, the easier he could seek hi revenge on king Claudius. Hamlet acts reasonable; not like an insane man by knowing that a faked madness would facilitate his plan, and being able to successfully undertake it further proves his sanity. Polonius later realizes that Hamlet's madness is controlled and there seems to be an alterior reason for it. In an aside Polonius remarks to himself "Though this is madness , yet there is method in it." (II. ii. 200-201). He also noticed "... how pregnant..." (II. ii. 203); meaning witty and preempted Hamlet's replies are. These observations denote the actions of a rational man, not those of a man who has lost all ability to reason. The evident conscious of Hamlet that is presented throughout the play is proof enough that Hamlet is not at all mad. Hamlet criticizes himself "Why, what an ass am I ! This is most brave/ That I, the son of a dear father murdered/ Prompted to my revenge by heaven
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Approximate Word count = 1255
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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