Nietzsche's Madness In Hamlet

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There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness” - Friedrich Nietzsche. In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare the protagonist, Hamlet, has a reason for his madness and that is the death of his father. Hamlet is perceived as one wrought by astounding fits of madness due to the knowledge of his father’s death, when in fact, he has not lost his senses but wishes to be suspected as one seen as insane. Hamlet’s plan to act mad is due to the Ghost of King Hamlet telling him that he was killed by King Claudius. Hamlet reveals this to his most trusted friend, Horatio, and also to his mother, Queen Gertrude. It is only when Hamlet is around King Claudius and other characters that he acts mad in their presence. Overall, Hamlet’s madness is all to avenge the death of his father. Hamlet proves he is sane when he reveals to Horatio and Queen Gertrude his plan to get revenge on King Claudius for killing his father. Hamlet tells Horatio to not be alarmed if he seems insane around him due to it only being a part of the plan. “How strange or odd some’er i bear myself as perchance hereafter shall …show more content…

Hamlet initially plants his seed of false madness into Ophelia and Polonius, “My lord, as i was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; his stockings foul’d ungarter’d, and down-gyved to his ankle/ As if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors-he comes before me.”(II.i.87-94). From this statement Ophelia is convinced Hamlet is mad because she is forbidden from seeing him. Also, Ophelia is genuinely scared because of Hamlets disheveled look and actions towards her. His actions were able to convince Polonius and Ophelia of his madness he soon get King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to believe his act. Even though after speaking with Hamlet, Queen Gertrude shares with King Claudius that he has gone

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