Is Hamlet s Madness Genuine Or Feigned - 1671 Words

Jordan Avery Mrs. Joyner Honors English IV 17 December 2015 Is Hamlet’s Madness Genuine or Feigned? One of the most controversially discussed themes in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is the theme of Hamlet’s madness. Shakespeare left it up to the audience to decide whether he was truly crazy or not. Although, there are many deliberate acts of fabricated insanity repeated throughout the play. Hamlet’s life events such as the death of his father, loving someone he cannot have, and not mention the marriage of his mother to his uncle, was enough to make someone go off of the deep end. However, Hamlet even admits that he was going to â€Å"feign madness† in order to avenge his father’s death in a less apparent manner. The death of King Hamlet singlehandedly was the reason behind Hamlet’s acts of antic disposition. After Hamlet’s father died, he came back in what seemed to be an apparition. In Act I, scene V, the ghost speaks to Hamlet and claims to be his father’s spirit. In this conversation, he was asked to avenge the death of his father by killing King Claudius, which would be King Hamlet’s brother. Prince Hamlet’s worst fears about his uncle have now been confirmed and he is ready to begin the process of a hasty revenge. He promises to keep his word of obeying what the ghost asked of him by saying, â€Å"†¦meet it is I set it down that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I’m sure it may be so in Denmark. So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word†Show MoreRelatedThe Madness Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1047 Words   |  5 PagesTate McWhorter Period: 3 The Madness in Hamlet In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, madness is a condition which is difficult to identify whether it is genuine or fraudulent. After the encounter with the ghost of Hamlet Sr. and Hamlet, Hamlet decides to put on an antic disposition. But thereafter he decides this, Hamlet s actions embody someone that is truly mad. This is how Shakespeare makes it difficult to determine if Hamlet is truly mad. Although through his feigned actions and the reactions fromRead MoreIs Hamlet Really Insane?1404 Words   |  6 PagesIV January 1st, 2015. Was Hamlet Really Insane? William Shakespeare, a renowned poet and playwright, wrote the play Hamlet at the turn of the 16th century– which has become known and enjoyed around nearly the entire world. Ever since it was written more than four centuries ago, there has been a decently large amount of debate between Shakespearean scholars, casual readers, literary critics, and sometimes even psychologists and psychoanalysts about whether or not Hamlet ever truly went insane atRead MoreInsanity In Hamlet Essay1038 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, the protagonist, Prince Hamlet, is an inconsolable young man who struggles with the death of his father, King Hamlet. 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Does Hamlet show any signs of selfish motives in his actions or inactions? Which protagonist seems more learned? wiser? more religious? more loving? more incestuous? Which seems to be a better murder investigator? Does Oedipus have any of Claudius motives when he kills the king, Laius? ThenRead MoreShakespeares Presentation of Ophelia Essay1786 Words   |  8 Pagesinstructions. Notably, Ophelia not only appears to have little understanding of Hamlets madness, but no curiosity into its cause. Like Gertrude, Ophelia has no soliloquy in which she can confide her true thoughts and feelings, which is a pity as it detracts from her character as a whole. Shakespeare achieves this deliberately of course; however, it raises the question as to why Hamlet should have been attracted to her, if indeed he ever was. Although there is no textualRead MoreComparing Hamlet And Oedipus Rex1868 Words   |  8 PagesMarcos Martinez John Q. Davis English 103 Date†¦.. Hamlet Oedipus Rex In Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, there is a seemingly close common relationship shown between the two plays regarding mainly the community and era in which they took place in. As well as different scenes throughout both stories which show very similar ideas from the writers such as, murder being the common theme in both plays. One example comes from the story, Oedipus the King, and it is that there is a direct