Insanity In Shakespeare's Hamlet-A Monarch Of Madness

Hamlet: A Monarch of Madness Hamlet, a play by William Shakespeare, follows the Prince of Denmark who returns home followed by the death of his father, the king. Upon seeing his father’s “ghost” and hearing his cry for revenge, Hamlet is vexed by the question of whether or not his father was murdered and, if so, by whom. By the end of the play, obsession turns into madness, and the story ends in a catastrophe of death. Hamlet's journey to madness causes a butterfly effect, that of which could have been avoided had he never assumed an obsession with discovering his father’s killer. If it weren’t for his development of madness, none of the events which followed would have occurred. The Butterfly Effect, a term coined in 1972 by meteorologist

As the old saying goes, “...it’s the straw that broke the camel's back…”, expressing that a seemingly minuscule component can have a big impact. In the beginning of the story, it is affirmed that Hamlet is fully aware of his actions. He is not mad, but acts as such to produce an answer. Although, Hamlet’s front progressively becomes reality. As he eagerly awaits the play, he transitions into a state of madness. Hamlet’s insanity can be seen in the way he speaks after Claudius has fled from the play, madness and all. “Why, let the stricken deer go weep,/The Hart ungalléd play./For some must watch while some must sleep,/So runs the world away” (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 256-259).

In other words, the wounded deer will suffer while the untouched continue to play. When looked at as metaphors to people, the guilty will pay their dues and the innocent will remain vulnerable and exposed as is. Some will watch, seeking potential wrong doings, while others remain slothful. Hamlet compares himself to the alert individual, watching Claudius’ every move for a sign of admittance to murder. All this to kill in the name of his father. Hamlet’s madness ultimately leads to the family’s demise. Upon his loss of all sanity, his mother calls Hamlet into her chambers. But as Gertrude attempts a mutual conversation, she is verbally and physically