While most people believe that Hamlet went mad for one reason, being that he saw his father's ghost, what Hamlet actually did was convince those around him that he was mad. When in reality, he was only pretending to be mad for one reason which was that he was seeking revenge for his father and Uncle, all he can think about is blood. He says, “O, this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.”1 This is the indication that he has made a decision. He mentions that if you only think about what you want, rather than act upon it, you will never get it. Every character that had anything to do with Hamlet believed that he was truly mad. This was confirmed when Hamlet claimed to have seen his father’s ghost. For a more in depth example, …show more content…
After Hamlet’s father’s ghost appeared to Hamlet, telling Hamlet that he wants Hamlet to get revenge for him. "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."4 Hamlet makes getting revenge for his father the most important thing in his life. Hamlet agreed to do what the ghost asked because Hamlet was seeking revenge for himself as well as his father. Hamlet was angered by his mother’s quick marriage to Claudius. The reason that Claudius makes the quick marriage worse, is because Claudius is the one that killed Hamlet’s father. We learn this when Hamlet’s father’s ghost tells him this by saying, "Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once …show more content…
“O, this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.” – Hamlet, line 3 of Act 4, Scene 4,.
2. “Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.” – Hamlet, line 114 of Act 3, Scene 1.
3. “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven.” – Hamlet, line 1 of Act 3, scene 3.
4. "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." – Hamlet ghost, Act 1, scene 5, page 14
5. "Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd." – Hamlet senior ghost, Act 1, scene 5, page 14
Citations
1. “O, this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.” – Hamlet, line 3 of Act 4, Scene 4,.
2. “Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.” – Hamlet, line 114 of Act 3, Scene
Hamlet in the beginning of the play finds out about how his father truly died and begins to devise a plan to avenge his father. Just so happen his plan is to be crazy. Hamlet first begins acting crazy when he goes into Ophelia’s sewing rooms and starts sniffing her, this little act of crazy has Polonius thinking hamlet is mad with love for Ophelia and began occasionally spying on Hamlet. Hamlets friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent so spy on him by the king but hamlet sees through the cleaver plan and just continues to act mad around his school friends, and tells them that he is "I am but mad north-north-west" (BOOK). Polonius, the Queen, and the king come up with a plan to try and see how hamlet feels about Ophelia. They all watch while Ophelia waits for hamlet to pass by Hamlet and Ophelia speak about their relationship but hamlet say he never loved Ophelia because he knows someone is listening so he must act mad. Hamlets has rewritten a scene in a play that was being preformed in the castle to match the way King Hamlet tells hamlet he was killed. While watching the play hamlet sees that the kings reactions is just what he wants it to be. Guilt. But its at this moment in the play hamlet tries to warn someone about all the things happening. Hamlet goes up to Ophelia after the play and says "believe none of this"(BOOK). While a lot of things could have been
Throughout the play, Hamlet becomes more and more believable in his act, even convincing his mother that he is crazy. However, through his thoughts, and actions, the reader can see that he is in fact putting up an act, he is simply simulating insanity to help fulfil his fathers duty of revenge. Throughout the play, Hamlet shows that he understands real from fake, right from wrong and his enemies from his friends. Even in his madness, he retorts and is clever in his speech and has full understanding of what is going on around him. Most importantly, Hamlet does not think like that of a person who is mad.
Hamlet is without a doubt one of the most complex pieces to interpret for many different scholars and people. The question of the truth behind his madness has become a debate among anyone who lays eyes on the play. In fact, madness becomes a large role within the play that will cause many situations as well as effect them. I believe Hamlet unintentionally went mad attempting to act as a mad man.
Kastan, David Scott “His semblable in his mirror: Hamlet And The Imitation of Revenge”. Shakespeare studies 19. (1987): 111. masterFILE. Web 22 Nov. 2013.
This quote is spoken by Hamlet. This quote shows that Hamlet’s tragic flaw is procrastination, because Hamlet is sure that Claudius is Hamlet’s father’s murderer after watching Claudius’ reaction to Hamlet’s play. Hamlet puts on a play showing his father’s death to determine if Claudius is guilty or not judging by Claudius’ reaction to the play. Claudius does react in a guilty way, and Hamlet is passionate about getting revenge on Claudius. However, Hamlet finds another reason not to get revenge, and delays the revenge even
The question that the characters in Hamlet commonly ask themselves is, “Why is Hamlet mad?” Rather, the question should be, “Is Hamlet truly mad?” After Hamlet speaks with his father, who is in the form of an apparition,
In Act 1 Scene 5, the ghost of Hamlet’s father says. GHOST “I am thy father's spirit. Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night. And for the day confined to fast in fires. Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away.”
Revenge is a recurring theme in Hamlet. Although Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s death, he is afraid of what would result from this. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet’s unwillingness to revenge appears throughout the text; Shakespeare exhibits this through Hamlet’s realization that revenge is not the right option, Hamlet‘s realization that revenge is the same as the crime which was already committed, and his understanding that to revenge is to become a “beast” and to not revenge is as well (Kastan 1).
Throughout Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet’s sanity is questioned numerous times. Some side with the idea that he was completely sane but others believe that he was a truly mad prince. Shakespeare uses his phenomenal writing ability to cause the reader to question their true feelings towards Hamlet. Hamlet is no more than a boy trying to avenge his father, but gets too caught up in the idea of revenge to have the ability to logically think about his actions.; however, his growth as a character throughout the play is a very important piece of the plot of the play.
In order for Hamlet to carry out his goal of revenge, he has to be totally sane. In Act I, he is warned by the ghost not to go mad and not to harm his mother ”Against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven” (I.V.87.shakespeare). If Hamlet were truly mad, he would have done many unorthodox acts, which would
“Hamlet is another of the great creations of tragic poetry…What is it that inhibits him in fulfilling the task set him by his father’s ghost?...Hamlet is able to do anything—except take vengeance on the man who did away with his father and took that father’s place with his mother, the man who shows him the repressed wishes of childhood realized. Thus the loathing which should drive him on to revenge is replaced in him by self-reproaches, by scruples of conscience, which remind him that he himself is literally no better than the sinner whom he is to punish.”- Sigmund Freud
While Claudius is praying, Hamlet has an opportunity to slay him but doesn’t because if he kills him in his prayers he will make him go to heaven instead of hell. Another minor reason for Hamlet’s revenge against his uncle is his affection towards his mother. As the play progresses, we are able to determine that Hamlet’s relationship with his mom is close to incest status. With this information, we are able to imply that Hamlet is jealous of his Uncle Claudius for marrying his mother.... ... middle of paper ...
Why someone would choose to appear mad is beyond me, however, Hamlet seemed to believe that this was the best way to go about killing his uncle/stepfather. During the period this is set in, the knowledge that your mother married your uncle a month after the death of your father - which is soon proved to be murder - is enough to make many sane person’s grip on reality to falter. Their world is practically being turned upside down. However, rather than handling the matter maturely, sweet Hamlet “put an antic disposition on,” (I.v. 170,172), which
Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy is arguably the most famous soliloquy in the history of the theatre. Even today, 400 years after it was written, most people are vaguely familiar with the soliloquy even though they may not know the play. What gives these 34 lines such universal appeal and recognition? What about Hamlet's introspection has prompted scholars and theatregoers alike to ask questions about their own existence over the centuries?
...t for revenge. If Hamlet is indeed truly mad then he alerts his foes to this information and they in turn become very circumspect of Hamlet and his plans. Hamlet's madness serves to call attention to himself and raise suspicions of his enemies.