An Exploration of the Way Shakespeare Presents Madness in Hamlet

An Exploration of the Way Shakespeare Presents Madness in Hamlet

Does Shakespeare intend to present Hamlet and Ophelia as insane? This

is a question which has baffled English literary critics for more than

400 years. There is still no definite answer, and throughout the play

there are numerous points where you stop and wonder whether Hamlet and

Ophelia are sane or not. They both change dramatically from one scene

to another, often drastically.

Although in my opinion, Hamlet is not crazy at all, he is merely

forced to act insane to avenge his fathers’ death. Hamlet is in fact

so good at acting insane that many people question whether or not he

is actually insane. Although many believe he is just exceptionally

depressed as a result of his father's death. Gertrude rushed into

marriage only two months after her husband’s death and this can

certainly be seen as a key reason for Hamlet’s profound depression. It

was a very little space of time between his father’s death and his

mother’s re-marriage, this time to Claudius who was next in line to be

King anyway – and now became so. This was another factor which upset

Hamlet, as he would have potentially became king eventually whereas

now this may not be the case.

Personally, I believe that Hamlet set out to act insane – but, as a

result of constant recurring betrayal – actually did turn genuinely

insane. Throughout the play, with the exception of one character,

there is not one soul who sticks with him; they all betray him in one

way or another, with the exception of Horatio.

At the beginning of the play, Hamlet first expresses his grief for his

father’s death when his mother and Clau...

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...was suicide,

murder or accidental, and in my eyes Shakespeare did this on purpose

to make the audience make their own mind up with regards as to whether

or not she was truly mad.

Ophelia was like no other character in the play. Unlike the themes of

revenge and corruption, she stood out as being pure and innocent. It

is in fact ironic that it is she whom should die so early on instead

of one of the evil individuals – such as Claudius.

In my opinion, both Hamlet and Ophelia were crazy and were as mad as

each other were, only Hamlet was stronger inside and resisted suicide

as he has a reason to live, to seek revenge on Claudius. I think

Hamlet and Ophelia loved each other throughout despite what they

showed on the outside, and I believe that they both drove themselves

to madness via their own love for one another.