Hamlet’s Madness in Craft Essay - 887 Words

In Act I, Scene V, after hearing the ghost’s demand for revenge, Hamlet says in advance that he will consciously feign madness while seeking the opportune moment to kill Claudius. Therefore, it is hard to conclude that he coincidentally became insane after making such a vow. Hamlet’s supposed madness becomes his primary way of interacting with the other characters during most of the play, in addition to being a major device that Shakespeare uses to develop his character. Still, the question remains: Is Hamlet really crazy or just pretending? The major conflict which seems obscures the possibility of obtaining clarity on the answer to this question is Hamlet’s inability to find any certain moral truths as he works his way toward revenge.†¦show more content†¦During their conversation, Hamlet calls the old man a â€Å"fishmonger† and irrationally responds to his questions. Still, many of Hamlet’s seemingly lunatic statements disguise pointed observations about Polonius’s conceit and old age. In fact, Polonius himself comments that while Hamlet is not of right mind, his words are often â€Å"pregnant† with meaning (II.ii.206). Then, in Act III, Scene I, Claudius and Polonius eavesdrop on Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia so as to establish whether Hamlet’s madness stems from his lovesickness over Ophelia. However, before we, the audience, see this encounter, we already think we know more than Claudius does in that we know that Hamlet is only acting crazy, and that he’s doing it to hide the fact that he is studying and plotting against his uncle. Therefore, we the audience suppose that it cannot be true that Hamlet is acting mad because of his love for Ophelia. Yet, Hamlet’s vindictive attitude toward her throws everything we think we know into question. Does Hamlet mean what he says to Ophelia? To be sure, it is another question for a later date. In Act III, Scene II, Hamlet app ears to be more self-controlled, given that he skillfully manipulates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and his speaks freely with Horatio. The facility with which Hamlet alternates between passionate, erratic behavior and rational, focused behavior seems to prove that he is not insane after all. While he is excited yet articulate during his conversationShow MoreRelatedHamlet’s Madness in Craft Essay868 Words   |  4 PagesIn Act I, Scene V, after hearing the ghost’s demand for revenge, Hamlet says in advance that he will consciously feign madness while seeking the opportune moment to kill Claudius. Therefore, it is hard to conclude that he coincidentally became insane after making such a vow. Hamlet’s supposed madness not only becomes his way of relating to the other characters during the majority of the play, but also that which develops his character as throughout the play. Still, the question remains: Is HamletRead MoreEssay on Hamlets Antic Disposition1487 Wo rds   |  6 PagesHamlets Antic Disposition      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Shakespeares famous tragedy Hamlet, the main character of the story is one majestically elaborated, aside from being quite complex. There are infinite volumes written about this character because Shakespeare leaves no firm proof of many of his character traits. Yet on Hamlets antic disposition, meaning his obviously absurd temperament or madness, Shakespeare leaves plenty of reason to believe that it is feigned, meaning that it is simply a ployRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1640 Words   |  7 PagesHoratio and Marcellus, that he is going to assume an â€Å"antic disposition,† it is commonly debated as to whether or not Hamlet actually delves into madness (1.5.192). Hamlet’s display of control over both his thoughts and his actions, coupled with the fact that many other characters doubt his madness, makes it evident that Hamlet never does descend into true madness. Many believe that Hamlet first displays his insanity when he meets with the ghost of his father, saying that by taking the walk late at nightRead MoreMadness; Real or Fake?747 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"There is no great genius without a mixture of madness,† a quote said by the famous philosopher Aristotle. There have been times in history where madness has been faked, and many times the mad person was caught, but, it is also not impossible to fake madness. This is shown in the tragic history of Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, where the title character’s madness is definitely faked. Hamlet is a genius who uses madness to develop his idea of revenge. Hamlet has admitted to faking it, notRead MoreMadness In Hamlet Essay869 Words   |  4 Pagesguilty of the murder of his brother, King Hamlet. To avoid anyone discovering him, he maintains his crazy act in front of his own love interest, Ophelia, perplexing her to the point of lunacy. One of the main contributors to Ophelia’s authentic madness is Hamlet’s pretense of insanity, leading to both Hamlet and Ophelia’s ultimate defeat. From the â€Å"big-picture† point of view, it may seem that Hamlet has genuinely gone mad, but there are many instances where Hamlet alludes to his forgery. The first instanceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet, The Most Famous Being Hamlet s Own Emotional State1661 Words   |  7 Pagesplay, the most famous being Hamlet’s own emotional state. His madness, triggered by his incestuous uncle, has led several scholars to explore the psychological causes of his madness. This research into Hamlet’s madness will explore his madness in comparison to other characters, the psychoanalytical studies behind his madness, and defining whether his madness is genuine or another play within the play. His mother and his uncle have married after only 2 months of Hamlet’s father’s death. This has causedRead MoreHamlet by William Shakespeare656 Words   |  3 PagesThe play is divided into six acts and is set in medieval Denmark. It is about Hamlet’s revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for murdering his father. Hamlet is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest achievements; hundreds of theories have been spawned over the past four centuries. However, one of the most interesting aspects is the psychology behind it. There is plenty of psychological depth behind Hamlet’s madness. One could easily argue that Hamlet isn’t actually mad. Hamlet understandsRead MoreEssay about Is Hamlet Mad or Mad in Craft?1123 Words   |  5 PagesIs Hamlet Mad or Mad in Craft? Madness is defined as the state of being mentally ill or having extremely foolish behavior. It is a condition in which is difficult to identify whether it is true or not. In William Shakespeares masterpiece, Hamlet, there is confusion as to whether or not his madness is real. The ghost of his father asks Hamlet to avenge his death. While he tries to accomplish this, he puts on an antic disposition. The antic disposition reoccurs throughout the play, but is merelyRead MoreGender Roles In Shakespeares Ophelia And Hamlet1258 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare writes Ophelia has a character capable of reason, yet denies her the ability of reasoning. At the start of the play, there is little evidence that Ophelia will display the madness that will take her. However, one may deduce that her ideas of Hamlet’s vows to her are the first signs of Ophelia s madness. Laertes tries his best to convince Ophelia that â€Å"if [Hamlet] says he loves [her],/ it fits [her] wisdom [...] to belie ve it† (1.3.24). By this, it could be assumed that Laertes is predictingRead More The Mood Swings of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay768 Words   |  4 Pageswhen he hears of his fathers murder. No one knows if his madness is a show like he says or real like it seems. It seems as if there are two Hamlets in the play. One that is sensitive and an ideal prince and the insane uncivilized Hamlet, who from an outburst of passion and rage slays Polonius with no feeling of remorse and then talks about lugging his guts into another room. This is why I say Hamlets madness is less than madness and more than pretend. Hamlet says he is just acting mad when