FREE ESSAY ON MADDNESS IN HAMLET

MADDNESS IN HAMLET

Madness may be "mental incapacity caused by an unmentionable injury." Such wounds often
are not easily perceived but may be revealed in time of stress. Hamlet's question, "have
you a daughter?"(Act II. Sc2 182) Polonius about the Prince's emotional state. What is
hidden will surely be told to Cloudius by his adviser. Laertes' search for revenge is
sharper proof that madness in degrees of publicity causes harm to the observers. Claudius
promise "no wind of blame"(Act IV, Sc.7,66) once Laertes kills Hamlet; perhaps this is
what the uncle has sought all along for himself. Ophelia has a unique, very powerful form
of madness; she seems caught as a "baker's daughter,(Act IV, Sc. 5, 42) between memories
of her father and Hamlet who ought have spokedn to her of events on "Valentine's day.(Act
IV, Sc 5, 48) She is doubly hexed and the madness she has infects the whole court. Once a
person's mental state has been studied in public, there is no telling the injuries which
may affect the viewers. 
Ever since the death of King Hamlet young Hamlet has been what appeared to be in a state
of madness. In a discussion between Hamlet and Polonius Hamlet questions Polonius by
asking him "have you a daughter."(Act II, Sc.2, 182) In this discussion Hamlet shows
antic behavior towards Polonius by mocking him when Hamlet would usually show great
respect for him because of he age and heis high position in the court. This sudden
question to Polonius has caused Polonius to believe that Hamlet has a form of
love-sickness and that Polonius is sure to tell Claudius of his condition. Hamlet also
accuses Polonius of being the "Jephthah, judge of Israel,"(Act II, Sc.2, 399) meaning
that Polonius would put his country in front of his daughter. Hamlet has now convinced
Polonius that he is in a state of madness because he knows that Polonius cares for his
daughter very much and would never put her second. By convincing Polonius that he has no
consideration for the well-being of others, Hamlet is then hoping that Polonius will tell
the court of his emotional madness. 
Unlike Hamlet, Laertes has developed a different kind of madness, a madness that is
controlled by revenge. When Laertes is talking to Claudius, Laertes gets so much revenge
building up inside him against Hamlet that Laertes now wants to "cut his throat."(Act
4,Sc.7,125) Laertes' behavior is caused by the sudden death of his father who was without
a due ceremony, and his sister who has been driven mad, has contributed to the madness
that is being built up inside Laertes. This madness grows even stronger when Claudius
promises "no wind of blame"(Act IV.Sc7,66) when Laertes kills Hamlet. With Claudius being
the puppet holder and Laertes being the puppet, Claudius turns Laertes into a savage
beast to avenge for his fathers' death; perhaps this is what the Claudius has planned all
along. Laertes has a form of madness that is escalating because Laertes knows that he has
the capabilities and motivation to act on what he believes on. 
Ophelia has a unique form of madness unlike Hamlet's and Laertes' because it a mixture of
love and hate. An example of hate is when she sings about a "baker's daughter."(Act
IV,Sc.5,42) Ophelia is referring to the way her father used to treat her before the
tragic incident of his death. A love within her madness is when she speaks about the
events on "Valentine's day."(Act IV, Sc.5,48) When Ophelia speaks about Valentines day
she is referring to the events of romance that she was denied. Ophelia's madness is
brought on by her lack of being able to demonstrate any maturity in trying to cope with
her losses and in return can only inflict her madness on the court. 
By stating that Hamlet could have controlled his fraudulent madness, he then had the
capability of controlling his conscious mind into acting traditional. Where Laertes was
very influential by others and had no real control over the mental state he was
developing by the sway of Claudius. Ophelia was the most innocent victim of all because
she was the side affect of everyone else's actions and had no idea that she was mentally
disintegrating. It can be noticed that within each of these three people there can be no
reassurance on what the affect they may have on others due to their mental state in
public.
Bibliography
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