Sanity in Hamlet by William Shakespeare - 1160 Words

Sanity in Hamlet The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines insanity as, â€Å"a deranged state of the mind that usually occurs as a specific disorder†. In Shakespeares play, Hamlet is considered to be insane by many due to his unstable, deranged behavior and his attitude towards others. Hamlet does an outstanding job of acting insane throughout the play, so good, in fact, that his insanity is questioned to actually be truthful. The answer to Hamlets madness lies in the actual reasons for his insanity. Although Hamlet’s constant altering behavior was scrutinized by individuals as being psychotic, we can not forget that his father was just murdered and he wishes to uncover the truthfulness of his father’s death and avenge the killer. Hamlet chooses to to change his behavior in order to try to put pressure on Claudius to reveal the truth of his father’s murder, he displays rational and intelligent thinking in planning as well as in responding to unplanned situations, and he h as been upset by the recent events that have happened in his life, all of which could create a false image of insanity. Hamlet must make conscious decisions in his interactions with Claudius in order to make an effort to uncover the truth of his father’s murder. If Hamlet were to act his normal self it would be obvious that he knows about the murder, so he comes up with a plan to display a deranged manner to throw everyone off as to what he does or does not know about the murder. If King Claudius found outShow MoreRelatedThe Sanity Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet1938 Words   |  8 Pagesantagonist as mentally ill brings depth to the character’s essence. Many acclaimed critics question the sanity of the protagonist in one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet. The question of Prince Hamlet’s sanity divides readers into two different opinions: one defending his plan of fake insanity and the other confirming his insanity. In his plan to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet disguises himself as mad. Unfortunately, Hamlet’s intricate plan backfires as his mental illnesses becomeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Sanity Vs. Insanity1742 Words   |  7 Pages2015 Honors English IV Mrs. Joyner Sanity VS. Insanity â€Å"Hamlet represents the mid period of the growth of Shakespeare s genius, when comedy and history ceased to be adequate for the expression of his deeper thoughts and sadder feelings about life, and when he was entering upon his great series of tragic writings† (The World s Best Essays from the Earliest Period to the Present Time). Hamlet’s actions are entirely too extreme for him to be faking his insanity. Hamlet is constantly on the brink of insanityRead MoreAnalysis Of Hamlet s Sanity By William Shakespeare1154 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Hamlet’s Sanity Throughout Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, we questioned Hamlet’s sanity. Did Hamlet have a mental illness or was it all an act? Was he really that great of an actor or was he really losing his mind slowly? Did Hamlet father’s death caused his insanity or was it his motivation? One part of the play, you would think he is not insane, and has out smarted everyone. Then in others scenes, you would think he had completely lost it. He often toyed with the idea of killing himselfRead MoreDoubt in Hamlet1267 Words   |  6 PagesAnalyse the theme of doubt in Hamlet. In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, doubt is one of the most important themes. In fact, the whole play is based on the story of a ghost who claims to be Hamlet’s father, and nobody can be sure if what he says is the truth. 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Shakespeare questions the social and Christian institutions in the face of tragedy with the usageRead MoreTheme of Guilt in Hamlet Fifth Business Essay example938 Words   |  4 Pagesacid drop it corrodes the soul within and in extreme conditions it demolishes one’s life, it is better known as guilt. Guilt is a reoccurring theme in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that is demonstrated by various characters including, Dunstable Ramsay, Paul Dempster, Hamlet and Claudius and this essay shall compare the theme of guilt between the two literatures. In the novel Fifth Business, guilt is a plague that has spread throughout the lives of Dunstan RamsayRead MoreThe Relationship Between Ophelia and Hamlet: William Shakespeare970 Words   |  4 PagesThe play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, looks at the issue of madness and how it effects the characters of the play. Madness can be looked at from very different perspectives, such as strong and uncontrollable emotions, a person’s desires, and also a persons mental stability. Throughout the play, the audience is questioning the sanity of the main character, Hamlet, as he goes on his quest for revenge. The people around him also show signs of madness, such as Ophelia and Claudius, but in differentRead MoreHamlets Sanity Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet In the story of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s sanity is questioned because of the relationships he had with other characters in the story. Hamlet’s relationship with the other characters did not all start off bad. Gertrude was his mother, Ophelia is the woman that he loved, and Claudius was his stepfather. Eventually over time all of them started a conflict. Hamlet didn’t just have problems with them, he had problems with himself. The problems were internally and externally with