Preview

Ambiguity In Hamlet

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
297 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ambiguity In Hamlet
The character Hamlet is the central character of the play. All the actions of the play revolve around him and his behaviors. His apparent madness adds depth to his character, and makes the plot itself more interesting. To achieve this, William Shakespeare created some ambiguity and tension by raising a dilemma. Is Hamlet really insane? Or is he just pretending to be? At the beginning of the play, Hamlet states that “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on” (I.5.190-192). Hamlet states that he will pretend to be insane, in an effort to catch the attention of the entire court. Later in the play Hamlet tells his two best friends, (who now are spying on him by order of the King) that he is “but mad north-north-west:
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Analysis
    • 3020 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Hamlet Analysis

    Hamlet decides to get more information / prove what the ghost was saying before doing…

    • 3020 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Examples Of Insane In Hamlet
    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Examples Of Insane In Hamlet

    Hamlet appears to be insane, after Polonius's death, in act IV scene II. There are indications, though, that persuade me to think other wise. Certainly, Hamlet has plenty of reasons to be insane at this point. His day has been hectic-he finally determined Claudius had killed his father, the chance to kill Claudius confronted him, he comes very close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father, he accidentally kills Polonius, and finally the ghost of his father visits him. These situations are enough to bring Hamlet to insanity, but he remains sharp and credible.<br><br>Hamlet is able to make smart remarks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, comparing then to sponges, "When he (Claudius) needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    HAMLET INSANE OR NOT
    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages

    HAMLET INSANE OR NOT

    The story of Hamlet is undoubtedly one of the most famous stories in the whole wide world of literature. It features everything one would wish for in a tale: death, love, injustice, revenge, doubt, and eventually, (in)sanity. How is it with the latter, though? Was the main protagonist of Shakespeare’s most famous play a real madman? Was he faking lunacy to baffle the others? Or did periods of sanity and insanity fluctuate throughout the course of the story? These are the questions that will be looked at and answered in the following paragraphs, and perhaps the enigma of Hamlet’s mental health will finally be resolved.…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Insane In Shakespeare's Hamlet
    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Role Of Insane In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    In the play Hamlet is he really insane or is he faking? Hamlet has a plan from the beginning and that is to find out answers about his fathers death, and his suspicions lead him to his uncle. He decides to act like he was going insane to hopefully get answers revealed from his uncles. In the play he is so used to acting like he is insane he eventually becomes insane.…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Insanity In Shakespeare's Hamlet
    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page

    Theme Of Insanity In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    Hamlet’s behavior makes everyone worry about his insanity, but his sagacious thinking shows his actions are thought out, and his depressive state of mind. Hamlet does not appear to be suffering from insanity or from the disabling mental illness, schizophrenia. The National Institute of Mental Health describes the illness, “People with positive symptoms often ‘lose touch’ with reality” (“What is Schizophrenia” 2). With schizophrenia, just like with insanity, someone might lose their understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong. In the play, Hamlet states his plan, “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an antic disposition on” (I.v.172-173). Hamlet clearly confesses to Horatio he will have to act erratic behavior. Through this…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Crazy Research Paper
    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlet Crazy Research Paper

    Hamlet is more likely insane because of the action he has done and what he is going to do. He killed Polonius and slipped some crazy words during the play, So I think that Hamlet is not crazy for acting it, But crazy for been insane.…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Insanity In Hamlet
    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Examples Of Insanity In Hamlet

    Early on in the play the reader is shown that Hamlet is going to act insane in order to figure out the murder of his father. Therefore, at random moments throughout the play, Hamlet will act insane in so that he can in turn retrieve more information about the death of his father. Although young and handsome Hamlet says he is feigning his madness many readers have called into question whether or not he is genuinely mad. The fact that he is indeed going mad at times is true. It is true for many reasons. Reasons such as questioning his existence, showing true evidence of insanity not achievable by a sane person and at times using consequentialism in his train of thought. There are many factors that play into…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Is Hamlet Crazy
    • 1634 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Why Is Hamlet Crazy

    “Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide”. Although this quote by John Dryden was not directed towards Hamlet, this quote relates well to the argument of whether or not Hamlet was insane. The character of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is perhaps one of the most complex tragic heroes and possibly the most analyzed in all of English literature. Whether Hamlet was actually insane, or simply acting mad depends on the reader’s interpretation of the play. Hamlet is a complex character, he is the direct result of his psychological disorders. He is capable of quickly changing his emotions and state of mind from being happy, to being sorrowful, to being seemingly…

    • 1634 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Characters in Hamlet
    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Characters in Hamlet

    Hamlet could be considered a brilliant actor, only if you believe that he is not insane, he was not! Hamlet was always the smartest person in the room, whether he was two steps ahead of someone of one step behind, he always knew what to do. It can easily be interpreted that Hamlet is acting insane just to not leave a trail for anyone to follow. Hamlet opens up to the Horatio and Marcellus and tells them that he will act mad: “How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself—As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on” (1.5.177). Hamlet is clearly doing this so Claudius will not see him as a threat and will think of him as harmless. Hamlet is insane while actually sane. This is a perfect example of Hamlet being the smartest person in the room, as well as a perfect example of how madness shaped the play. If Hamlet did not act mad Claudius could have seen him as a threat much earlier and attempted to kill him much earlier. Even to the reader Hamlet seems insane, remember the reader knows what Hamlet is thinking. What Hamlet decides to do is “pronounced to be so atrocious and horrible, as to be unfit to be put into the mouth of a human being.” (Coleridge 4). Hamlet here has the reader believing that he is insane, however he could just be blinded by rage…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    "Hamlet", understanding Shakespeare language
    • 403 Words
    • 4 Pages

    "Hamlet", understanding Shakespeare language

    Read Act I of the play, then go to the assignment and list at least two examples for each of the language patterns you have found in Act I. Give the scene and line number where you find each example.…

    • 403 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Is Faking Being Insane
    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlet Is Faking Being Insane

    You can push my buttons, but you can’t play me for a fool” (Shakespeare 3.2.336-40). Hamlet means he is not a pipe that can be played whenever, and he is the person who can see the tricks and lies and can’t be fooled easily. Also, that's when Hamlet found out they were not true friends, they were fake, but nothing will stop Hamlet either way. Another quote from Hamlet’s point of view, stating he isn’t crazy is “Madness? My heart beats just as evenly as yours does. There’s nothing crazy in what I’ve just uttered. Put me to the test. I’ll rephrase everything I’ve just said, which a lunatic couldn’t do” (Shakespeare 3.4.143-55). This quote tells you he is faking being insane as well because Hamlet is saying he could recall what he says, which a lunatic wouldn’t be able to do. People around Hamlet think he is going crazy, although it could be everyone else. For instance, Hamlet should be able to speak his mind and be straight forward because he is trying to tell the truth but no one will listen. Also, someone like Hamlet has time to plot out his revenge and knows what he is going to do. A lunatic would have no clue to do something like…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Insanity In Hamlet
    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Theme Of Insanity In Hamlet

    Shakespeare’s hero, Hamlet, and his insanity is shown and is demonstrated in the different parts of the play. Many parts in the play points out his madness and his loss of control. Hamlet shows many mood swings throughout the play that makes him act mad and speaks like an insane. Hamlet illustrates many unclear emotions to show his insanity. We can see that there are two versions of Hamlet in the play because of the different actions. Sometimes he acts as a perfect prince and sometimes he acts as he is mad. There is a shift in the different personality Hamlet image, he therefore shows us that he in fact insane, with many example shown throughout the play.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Hamlet Mad Or Insane
    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Is Hamlet Mad Or Insane

    Throughout this play, Hamlet has been under an enormous amount of pressure. His father has been killed, he became depressed, and wanted to commit suicide. These things that have happened to him, or people around him, have created a mental freak out of Hamlet. Infact, since the very beginning, Hamlet has acted like a mad person. No point during this play has he not been insane.…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Sanity of Hamlet
    • 1066 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Sanity of Hamlet

    Hamlet was too “assiduous” and “methodical,” (Firkins 631)to be psychotic. His mind was not affected by all of the affairs that took place, it was his character that was affected. Hamlet saw much to be gained by feigning his madness, and because of this he did many things that the persons of the play construed to be insanity. Another key factor that favors his sanity, is his madness around certain characters. Around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern he behaves completely irrational, but around Horatio he is completely civil. He only lapses into prose when he is fabricating insanity. Hamlet is simply a man dealing with a futile plight. His diction was so cleverly composed…

    • 1066 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Madness Analysis
    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hamlet Madness Analysis

    Hamlet is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s best plays. Most critics would go as far to say that it is even one of the greatest works of literature from the seventeenth century. One of the many reasons Hamlet is so highly acclaimed is due to its controversial/ambiguous conflicts. For example: Throughout the play, Hamlet characters struggle to understand whether Prince Hamlet suffers from insanity or not. “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t” (2.2.195-196). This quote shows that although Polonius thinks Prince Hamlet is crazy, he also feels he is quick-witted. During this time period, people were not educated on the matters of mental health. Present day, where people are educated on such matters, Hamlet is clearly suffering from…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More