Is Hamlet Mad? Not Likely Essay Example
Is Hamlet Mad? Not Likely Essay Example

Is Hamlet Mad? Not Likely Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1156 words)
  • Published: December 21, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Madness is the condition of mind that eliminates rational thinking, resulting in an individual's lack of proper understanding about their surroundings.

The text examines the theme of madness in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. It suggests that individuals who have undergone traumatic events may resort to madness as a means of escaping their harsh reality. The protagonist, Hamlet, finds himself in a tumultuous period marked by his father's death, his uncle's ascension to the throne and subsequent marriage to his mother, an encounter with his father's ghost urging vengeance, and the prohibition on seeing the woman he loves. While these circumstances might drive someone mad and disconnected from reality, Hamlet remains resolute and grounded in both his thoughts and conversations with specific individuals despite displaying signs of madness.

Hamlet's decision to abruptly cease feigning madnes

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s following his confrontation with Laertes at the cemetery implies that his insanity was not genuine. He had a purpose for putting on this act - it would aid in concealing his inquiries into his father's murder and plotting retribution against his uncle Claudius if proven guilty. Upon encountering the apparition of his deceased father and receiving its message, Hamlet grew resolute in uncovering the truth and seeking revenge. Pretending to be insane enabled him to befuddle those near him more effortlessly while keeping his true motives veiled.

Hamlet deceives Polonius by pretending that his love for Ophelia is the cause of his madness. This leads Polonius to inform the king and queen, who respond with uncertainty but acknowledge the possibility. Hamlet's encounter with the ghost intensifies his distrust and dislike for women. He uses his feigned madness as a means to openly express negative feeling

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towards Ophelia, advising her to enter a nunnery or marry a fool due to their manipulative nature. Harsh treatment of Ophelia serves Hamlet's goal of focusing on avenging his father's death without distractions. Additionally, pretending to be mentally disturbed allows him to justify any immoral actions committed in pursuit of revenge. For instance, he claims that it was not him but rather his madness that caused harm when seeking forgiveness from Laertes for killing Polonius. By assuming this false insanity, Hamlet finds it easier to pursue truth and seek revenge while maintaining rational conversations with Horatio, who supports him in uncovering the truth about his father's demise. Prior to the play, Hamlet informs Horatio about a scene that closely resembles what he previously shared regarding his father's death situation.Hamlet calmly shares his plan with Horatio, requesting his assistance in observing his uncle during the scene. If his uncle's hidden guilt does not manifest through one speech, it would imply that the ghost they saw was merely a product of their imagination.

In his soliloquies, Hamlet engages in a rational and logical thought process as he reflects on his life. He contemplates the idea of suicide and its consequences, questioning whether it is better to endure life's hardships or bring them to an end. Death becomes an attractive prospect for him, offering relief from heartache and the numerous challenges of human existence. However, he acknowledges the uncertainty of what lies beyond death, particularly regarding dreams. Additionally, Hamlet explores the flaws of passion and the ability to feign emotions in other soliloquies. He also examines his own shortcomings when it comes to taking action. Furthermore, during his conversation

with his mother following Old Hamlet's ghostly appearance that was only visible to him, Hamlet demonstrates his sanity.

Hamlet converses with his mother in a clear, honest, and logical manner and even proposes to Gertrude: "...It is not madness / That I have utter'd. Bring me to the test, / And I the matter will re-word, which madness / would gambol from..." (3:4:143-46). Overall, if Hamlet were truly mad, he would only have irrational thoughts and would be unable to choose certain individuals to speak rationally with. Additionally, after Hamlet's confrontation with Laertes at Ophelia's funeral, he stops pretending to be mad. While feigning madness, whenever he spoke to someone unaware of his plan, he would mock them using ambiguous metaphors and irony to imitate madness.

After his confrontation with Laertes, Hamlet no longer bothered to hide his insults. For instance, when talking to Osric, a member of the king's court, Hamlet openly states: "Your status is even more favored because it is a flaw to know him. He owns a lot of land, fertile land. Let a beast become the ruler of beasts and his food will be served at the king's table. He may be a fool, but as I said, he has plenty of dirty possessions" (5:2:85-89). Hamlet doesn't attempt to hide his belief that Osric only holds his position in the court because of his extensive fertile land.

Hamlet, before his duel with Laertes, apologizes and asks for forgiveness: “Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong; / But pardon’t as you are a gentleman” (5:2:222-23). If Hamlet were truly mad, he wouldn't acknowledge the harm he caused and feel remorseful about

it. Additionally, Hamlet's noble actions in his last moments further demonstrate that he is no longer pretending to be mad and instead acts out of genuine kindness.

Hamlet's plan to uncover the truth behind his father's death and seek revenge involved various acts, one of which was drinking the remaining poison from the glass already consumed by Claudius and Gertrude. This action aimed to prevent Horatio from sipping from that glass and dying as well. Despite experiencing constant mental illness, Hamlet interrupted his feigned madness once again and behaved completely sane. He remained in control of his conscious mind despite facing multiple tragedies in life and knowing that his uncle killed his father. It is undeniable that Hamlet's apparent madness served as a deliberate strategy to aid him in achieving his objectives.

Hamlet had several reasons for pretending to be mad. He wanted to hide his investigation, avoid any distractions, and absolve himself of guilt. Despite his actions, there are signs that he was not truly insane. He continued to think logically and speak sensibly with characters like Horatio and Gertrude. A madman would not exhibit rationality or coherence in their thoughts and speech. However, Hamlet suddenly stops feigning madness after his altercation with Laertes in the graveyard. From that point on, he speaks and behaves completely normally. This change is evident when he taunts Osric. Additionally, Hamlet's sanity is further affirmed as he expresses remorse for killing Polonius to Laertes and performs noble acts even as his own death approaches.

True madness, a debilitating illness, takes hold of an individual's mind and exerts complete dominion over their thoughts and actions. It is not a condition that thrives

solely upon summoning, nor can it be entirely dismissed if the afflicted person so desires. These issues have profound social implications.

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