Hamlet Literary Analysis
William Shakespeare, a playwright born in Stratford, England on April 26, 1564 and born of a middle-class family created evolutionary logic and reasoning in the English language and became a catalyst for the arts of drama. Against his own time period he created methods of acting and developed many of the coherent phrases that society uses in present day. Even among other scholarly writers who have had more experience and education than him he remains the image of playwriting. His talents in writing plays are put into three main categories of which are Tragedies, Histories, and Comedies. Of these, Hamlet is one of the major tragedies that has affected society and the development of English and is now a read requirement
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"Mad for thy love?" (Act 2 Scene 1 Page 82), “Polonius asks Ophelia, when she tells him about Hamlet's strange visit to her closet.” (Weller, Hamlet Navigator) Though no more than an actual question his conclusion is based off of only opinion of a sincere father, but this sincerity leads others especially Ophelia convinced that Hamlet is actually mad based off of his actions. Polonius says to the King and Queen, "your noble son is mad: / Mad call I it; for, to define true madness, / What is't but to be nothing else but mad?” (Act 2 Scene 2. Page 92-94) (Weller, Hamlet Navigator). This causes a split in their relationship and in which Shakespeare shows that something as simple as an assumption can mean the difference between belief and truth. Through the rest of the story Hamlet chooses to remain with the idea of his madness in a sort of mockery of his uncle the new king of Denmark and through evaluation the king and his relationship with Hamlet leads him to believe "I like him not, nor stands it safe with us / To let his madness range" (3.3.1-2),” (Weller, Hamlet Navigator) The king essentially doesn’t believe that it is safe for Hamlet who is “mad” to be roaming around kingdom even though Hamlet may not be mad at all. Though this is true Hamlet wavers back and forth in his own subconscious feeling “like a victim of a random, indifferent universe ruled by the whims of fortune” (James, Hamlet Study Guide)which he most exhibits in Act 5 of Hamlet during his solo soliloquy where he explains how his entire world seems to be against him with all the events that has recently
In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, we, as readers, increasingly question the sanity of the protagonist, Hamlet, as the play continues. His seemingly psychotic banter with the other characters in the play begins to convince us that Hamlet is, indeed, insane. Hamlet, however, states, “How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself, as I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on” (1.5.171). He specifically tells Horatio and Marcellus that he will be acting mad, as a front. Hamlet has an exceptional grasp on mental philosophy and the uses and effects of logic, more so than the other characters in the play.
Moreover, Hamlet is mad or so he seems to be. By looking at Hamlet and all his actions everyone is convinced he has gone mad. His mood changes a lot throughout the play, he speaks "wild and whirling words" (I.v.127-134) when he found our about his father’s death, has violet outbursts towards his mothe...
Throughout the play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the unclear representation of the protagonist’s actions is present. The protagonist, Hamlet, conducts the idea that he is turning mad. Although, there are many indications which support that this so-called “madness” is part of an act that Hamlet portrays. The other characters within the play try to understand the reasoning behind Hamlet’s madness, but cannot figure out the truth behind it. The main cause of Hamlet’s madness is the realization of his father’s death and the numerous influences his father’s death has on his life. Hamlet can control his actions of madness and specifically acts differently around certain characters. The characters who are more concerned
...encumbered thus, or this headshake, or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, as ‘Well, well, we know,’ or ‘We could an if we would,’ or ‘If we list to speak,’ or ‘There be an if they might,’ or such ambiguous giving-out, to note that you know aught of me-this do swear, so grac and mercy at your most need help you.". This quote is supported with Hamlet’s actions; when Hamlet is around he is in around certain characters. When he is around Polonius, Claudius! Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he acts crazy. However when he is around his friends, Horatio, Bernardo, The Players and the Grave Diggers, he acts quite sane. Even King Claudius confesses that Hamlet’s is sane when he says "...His affections do not that way tend; Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, was not like madness. There’s something in his soul...." [II, i, 176-178] Even though Polonius accuses Hamlet of being mad he also admits that Hamlet’s actions and words have a meaning this is shown when he says "Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t...."[II, ii, 222-224] Hamlet also admits that he is not mad to his mother he states "...That essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft."
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. By Susanne L. Wofford. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1994.
Logan Gaertner Mrs. Amon English IV 1 March 2014 Is Hamlet’s Insanity Real? Is Hamlet truly insane? While the play is not extremely clear on the matter and often contradicts itself, many of Hamlet’s wild ramblings and words of nonsense seem to be not the true words of a madman. Hamlet says that he is merely “putting on an antic disposition” (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 181). He admits very early on in the play that his insanity will be nothing more than a ruse to fool those around him.
Throughout Shakespeare?s play, Hamlet, the main character, young Hamlet, is faced with the responsibility of attaining vengeance for his father?s murder. He decides to feign madness as part of his plan to gain the opportunity to kill Claudius. As the play progresses, his depiction of a madman becomes increasingly believable, and the characters around him react accordingly. However, through his inner thoughts and the apparent reasons for his actions, it is clear that he is not really mad and is simply an actor simulating insanity in order to fulfill his duty to his father.
Throughout the Shakespearian play, Hamlet, the main character is given the overwhelming responsibility of avenging his father’s "foul and most unnatural murder" (I.iv.36). Such a burden can slowly drive a man off the deep end psychologically. Because of this, Hamlet’s disposition is extremely inconsistent and erratic throughout the play. At times he shows signs of uncontrollable insanity. Whenever he interacts with the characters he is wild, crazy, and plays a fool. At other times, he exemplifies intelligence and method in his madness. In instances when he is alone or with Horatio, he is civilized and sane. Hamlet goes through different stages of insanity throughout the story, but his neurotic and skeptical personality amplifies his persona of seeming insane to the other characters. Hamlet comes up with the idea to fake madness in the beginning of the play in order to confuse his enemies. However, for Hamlet to fulfill his duty of getting revenge, he must be totally sane. Hamlet’s intellectual brilliance make it seem too impossible for him to actually be mad, for to be insane means that one is irrational and without any sense. When one is irrational, one is not governed by or according to reason. So, Hamlet is only acting mad in order to plan his revenge on Claudius.
In act three, he even admits that his actions are insane, horrible and evil. He says, “I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft” (3.4.191). For Hamlet to admit that his actions are mad or insane, is the most insane trait of Hamlet. For him to openly admit that he is fully aware that his actions are mad, only ignites the flame of his insanity. This quote seals the deal for the reader that Hamlets mind is a wasteland of madness, but also of planned insanity and horrible actions.
Hamlet decides to portray an act of insanity, as part of his plan to seek revenge for his father's murder. As the play progresses, the reader may start to believe Hamlet’s “insane” act, but throughout the scenes, Hamlet shows that he knows right from wrong, good from bad, and his friends from his enemies. Hamlet shows that he still has power and control over his actions. As Elliot says “Hamlet madness is less than madness and more feigned”. Hamlet portrays a mad man, in order to be free from questioning, thus allowing him to have an easier path towards revenge.
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.
When asked about his depressed appearance and demeanor by Gertrude, Hamlet replies, "Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems" (1037, line 76). This relates the idea that Hamlet is 'what he appears to be '. Later, he clearly makes a statement about his mental health when he commits himself to avenge his father 's murder. This quote allows the reader to follow Hamlet 's train of thought in regards to his role as student, mourning son, and Prince to the throne: "I 'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain" (1054, line 100). Hamlet is stating his commitment to nothing short of revenge of his fathers ' death. There is little doubt about his state of mind at this point of the play. He can only talk about all of these plans to himself. He gets stuck in his head and therefore starts to argue these ideals with
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet the king of Denmark is murdered by his brother, Claudius, and as a ghost tells his son, Hamlet the prince of Denmark, to avenge him by killing his brother. The price Hamlet does agree to his late father’s wishes, and undertakes the responsibility of killing his uncle, Claudius. However even after swearing to his late father, and former king that he would avenge him; Hamlet for the bulk of the play takes almost no action against Claudius. Prince Hamlet in nature is a man of thought throughout the entirety of the play; even while playing mad that is obvious, and although this does seem to keep him alive, it is that same trait that also keeps him from fulfilling his father’s wish for vengeance
He appears to vary in how mad he is, sometimes appearing completely sane, and sometimes more insane. His madness is mostly portrayed through his ramblings at the other characters, or through soliloquies. Originally Hamlet was only feining madness in order to reach his goals and discover if Claudius was really the one who killed father. He decides this after meeting the ghost of his dead father: “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on-...”(Hamlet: 1.5.171-172).The other characters pick up on his “madness” as the play progresses further. They were all curious as to the cause of Hamlet’s madness. Polonius and Claudius believe it may be caused by the lack of contact with Ophelia that they had caused, whereas Gertrude’s first thought was that it was to do with his father’s death. Hamlet keeps up his act throughout the whole play, calling Polonius a fishmonger at one point, and also when he berated his ex-girlfriend Ophelia, even stating that she should go to a nunnery. She comments on Hamlet after his rant: “Oh what noble mind is overthrown…”(Ophelia 3.1.144). She starts to believe he has really gone mad, and that he truly does not care about her anymore. This also becomes a problem for the kingdom, as Hamlet is a royal and the heir to the throne, so having madness could be potentially calamitous for all of them. Shortly after
William Shakespeare's “Hamlet” is one of the most tragic plays ever written. It is about a young prince trying to keep his word to his dead father by avenging his death. Hamlet procrastinates when avenging his father’s death, which is his tragic flaw. Hamlet appears to be a coward as well as depressed. He finds himself questioning his own ambitious motives such as revenge and hatred toward his murderous uncle. Hamlet tells Horatio, his friend that he is going to fake madness as he loses his determination. It is Hamlet’s hubris that makes me begin to believe he is mad. Hamlet does at one point have doubt concerning the honesty of the ghost. His various reasons for delay in seeking revenge is that he wants to make sure his uncle Claudius is one hundred percent guilty and at the same time does not want to hurt his mother. He has too much Oedipus complex, love for his mother.