Hamlet Of Shakespeare Essay Research Paper Shakespeare

Hamlet Of Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper

Shakespeare’s tragic hero, Hamlet, and his sanity can arguably be discussed.

Many portions of the play supports his loss of control in his actions, while

other parts uphold his ability of dramatic art. The issue can be discussed both

ways and altogether provide significant support to either theory. There are

indications from Hamlet throughout the play of his mind’s well being. Hamlet’s

antic disposition may have caused him in certain times that he is in a roleplay.

Hamlet has mood swings as his mood changes abruptly throughout the play. Hamlet

appears to act mad when he hears of his father’s murder. At the time he speaks

wild and whirling words "Why, right; you are in the right; And so, without

more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and

part?"[Act I, scene V, lines 127-134]. It seems as if there are two

Hamlets in the play, one that is sensitive and an ideal prince, and the insane

barbaric Hamlet who from an outburst of passion and rage slays Polonius with no

feeling of remorse, "Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! / I

took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune;/ Thou find’st to be too busy is some

danger." [Act III. scene IV, lines 31-33] and then talks about lugging his

guts into another room. After Hamlet kills Polonius he will not tell anyone

where the body is. Instead he assumes his ironic matter which others take it as

madness. "Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. / A certain convocation

of politic worms are even at him." [Act IV, scene III, lines 20-21].

"If your messenger find him not there, seek him in the other place

yourself. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him

as you go up the stairs into the lobby."[Act IV, scene III, lines 33-36].

Hamlet’s behavior throughout the play, especially towards Ophelia is

inconsistent. He jumps into Ophelia’s grave, and fights with Laertes in her

grave. He professes "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers/Could not,

with all their quantity of love,/ Make up my sum" [Act V, scene I, lines

277-279], during the fight with Laertes in Ophelia’s grave, but he tells her

that he never loved her, when she returns his letters and gifts, while she was

still alive. Hamlet subtly hints his awareness of his dissolving sanity as he

tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in a fit of madness [Act V, scene II,

lines 236-250]. Hamlet has violent outbursts towards his mother. His outburst

seems to be out of jealousy, as a victim to the Oedipus complex. He alone sees

his father’s ghost in his mother’s chambers. Every other time the ghost appeared

someone else has seen it. During this scene he finally shows his madness,

because his mother does not see the ghost. "On him, on him! Look you how

pale he glares!/ his form and cause conjoined, preaching to stones / Would make

them capable" [Act III, scene IV, lines 126-128]. Throughout the play,

there are also supporting factors to argue Hamlet’s sanity, as these details

compromise his madness, to balance out his mental state. Hamlet tells Horatio

that he is going to feign madness, and that if Horatio notices any strange

behavior from Hamlet, it is because he is putting on an act. [Act I, scene V,

lines 166-180]. Hamlet’s madness in no way reflects Ophelia’s true madness, his

actions contrast them. Hamlet’s madness is only apparent when he is in the

presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius,

Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves unreasonably. When

Hamlet in the presence of Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The Players, and Clowns,

his actions are sensible. Other characters confess that Hamlet’s actions are

still unsure whether Hamlet’s insanity is authentic or not. Claudius confesses

that Hamlet’s actions although strange, do not appear to stem from madness.

"And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose/ Will be some danger; which for

to prevent,/ I have in quick determination [Act III, scene I, lines 169-171].

Polonius admits that Hamlet’s actions and words have a method to them; there

appears to be a reason behind them, they are logical in nature. "Though

this be madness, yet there is method in’t". [Act II, scene II, line 206]

Hamlet tells his mother "That I essentially am not in madness,/ But mad in

craft." [Act III, scene IV, lines 189-190]. Hamlet believes in his sanity

at all times, He never doubts his control over his sanity. He realizes his flaw

as a man of thoughts and not actions. His cold act of Polonius’ murder is out of

rage and furious temper. He is sorry for it but has no great compassion towards

Polonius, for he already has enough grief over his father’s death. Hamlet, a

tragic hero, meets his tragic end not because he was sane or insane. He ends

tragically because of his own tragic flaw, procrastination and grief. Whether he

sane or had lost control of his actions, both theories has its own support. The

support makes each theory a sensible decision either way. Hamlet as seen from

the beginning to end, a prince that was grieve stricken, until a prince of rage

and passion, has developed through the stages by his own sanity and madness.

Even if the madness was true or false, as Hamlet portrayed the role of a mad

man, he took it upon himself to be lost in his control of actions.