The Depiction Of Madness In Shakespeare's Hamlet
Madness, as portrayed by the media, is defined by its visibility. From the popular press to TV soaps and films, the depiction of madness always borders on the extreme: violent outbursts, fits, hallucinations. But beyond the violent depiction of madness portrayed by the media, it can take many forms. It can reveal itself as brutal public outbursts, as well as simply torturing the mind of it’s victims. Madness is unfortunately inevitable in some cases. Even those of strong character and will have given in to madness. Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, the protagonist becomes increasingly insane as the plot unfolds. His madness, fluctuating at times, but overall steadily increasing, was represented through both his monologues and his dialogue
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He was told that his father’s murderer is his uncle and king. Hamlet, planning his next steps, tells his friends that, “(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on).”(1.5.190-192). He warns his friends that he will put on an "antic disposition" or in other words, pretend to be a madman. Now speaking to an audience, Hamlet is raising suspicion. His friends who were on watch with him when he witnessed the ghost were just told that he would be “pretending” to be mad from this point forward. Hamlet who is still in a state of grief over his father’s death is extremely unstable. The word “pretending” is used loosely as it is still unsure whether he really is pretending or if he is just using it to cover up the fact that he really is descending into …show more content…
Throughout the play Hamlet seems to be insane, then sane again. His comment to his friends best describes his madness when he says,"I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" (2.2.378-379). He is mad only when the conditions are right. The conditions are betrayal: Ophelia's betrayal to him, his friends betrayal to him, his mother's betrayal to his father, and his uncle's betrayal to his brother. By definition, Hamlet is insane. He has shown mental instability throughout the
He was told that his father’s murderer is his uncle and king. Hamlet, planning his next steps, tells his friends that, “(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on).”(1.5.190-192). He warns his friends that he will put on an "antic disposition" or in other words, pretend to be a madman. Now speaking to an audience, Hamlet is raising suspicion. His friends who were on watch with him when he witnessed the ghost were just told that he would be “pretending” to be mad from this point forward. Hamlet who is still in a state of grief over his father’s death is extremely unstable. The word “pretending” is used loosely as it is still unsure whether he really is pretending or if he is just using it to cover up the fact that he really is descending into …show more content…
Throughout the play Hamlet seems to be insane, then sane again. His comment to his friends best describes his madness when he says,"I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" (2.2.378-379). He is mad only when the conditions are right. The conditions are betrayal: Ophelia's betrayal to him, his friends betrayal to him, his mother's betrayal to his father, and his uncle's betrayal to his brother. By definition, Hamlet is insane. He has shown mental instability throughout the