The Theme Of Madness In Hamlet

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In William Shakespeares play Hamlet, there are many profound yet controversial themes that occur repeatedly throughout the play. One of the most controversially debated themes throughout history is the theme of Hamlets madness. The question comes up over and over again if Hamlet is sane or insane. Hamlets life events, from the death of his father to the death of his lover, can be enough to push anyone to the edge of sanity and fall into insanity. The theme of madness is crucial to the plot and character development throughout the whole play. Madness is essentially introduced by Hamlet to carry out his plan of revenge. Hamlet puts on an act of insanity; however, mentally he is sane.
First of all, there are many occasions where Hamlet says he …show more content…

163-165). It looks like Hamlets antic disposition act worked perfectly because he has King Claudius believe his words are crazy; however there is a reason to them. Polonius also says: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't" (2.2.203-204). This quote clearly shows that Hamlet is crazy, but there is reason behind his craziness, and sure enough there is. Lately, Hamlets life is tragic event followed by another. First he finds out his father passed away, and then the ghost tells Hamlet that it was Hamlets Uncle Claudius who killed him, and to top it off his mother has married his Uncle Claudius, the murderer and king. Not only that, but he dumps his girlfriend and pretends not to love her only to find out that she committed suicide mostly because of him. Hamlets life has only gone from bad to worse, and worse to devastating. After all these horrific events, to go crazy would be an understatement. When Hamlet received the news of his father 's murder, he did what anyone would do in his situation. He puts on the antic disposition to find out if Claudius did kill his father and plan his revenge. On the other hand, when Laertes found out about the death of his father he suspected Claudius and immediately confronted him without much thought. He …show more content…

Both of them have tragic events occur in their lives. Ophelia is asked to stay away from Hamlet from her father; she then gets rejected by Hamlet, tricked into giving up her chastity, and worse of all her father is killed by her ex lover. Ophelia starts singing about her father 's death, Hamlets trickery and all the tricks of this world. To be singing after the death of your father clearly shows there is something wrong with you: "A document in madness" (4.5. 175-176). Hamlet does not completely lose it after the death of his father but keeps his cool and mind focused on his plan. Also, Hamlet constantly talks about suicide throughout the play: "To be or not to be, that is the question" (3.1. 156). On the other hand Ophelia does end up committing suicide and does not receive a proper Christian burial: "Her death was doubtful" (5.1. 211). It is wrong to constantly think and talk about suicide but to actually go through with it means you are insane. Tragic events happen in both their lives but Ophelia could not take it no more, like the wood of insanity has always been in Ophelia just waiting for something to torch it. Hamlet has many causes as well but the wood of insanity is not there no matter how hot the torch got.
In conclusion, Hamlets madness is questioned by the reaction of others and his feigned madness. William Shakespeare leaves us Hamlets words, actions and others reactions

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