Whether or Not Hamlet Is Insane - Essay Sample

Introduction

In the Shakespearian play "Hamlet" the protagonist is faced with overwhelming responsibilities in his character development and his role in holding the plot together. Hamlet is depicted with both conscious and unconscious mental insanity as he plots to avenge his father's death. The psychological burden drives Hamlet to show insanity and with insanity in his way of the approach of the situations ahead of him (Crystal & Crystal 2005). At some times Hamlet shows uncontrollable signs of insanity where his reactions and conduct are questionable for the soundness of his mind especially when he contemplates on the responsibility of avenging the murder of his father. This paper will discuss the two-sided coin to show whether or not Hamlet was insane as demonstrated in his reactions and response in the play.

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Shakespeare presents Hamlet's character in a wild, crazy and foolish as cover up to depict sanity in the situations he did not want his real identity and intentions known to others. His insanity was circumstantial showing that he only wanted to depict the attitude that he wanted to confuse his victims to pass him for insanity. : "...in his madness, has his faculties all in disharmony, like bells ringing out of tune and clashing discordantly..." (3.1. 157 - 160). When Hamlet is left along with Horatio he acts civilized and shows his high level of reasoning and sanity. Through his skeptical change of situations Hamlet is able to go through the different stages of insanity in the different scenes in the play to build on the literal application of figurative language, devices, and the settings development. His ability to transcode through the levels of sanity and the vice versa he is able to amplify his personality and role in the player development in a neurotic manner.

Hamlets scrutiny of satiations and issues revolving around his life are too high to pass for insanity. His level of connection between issues gives his mental state to the audience because at certain times he is able to contemplate complex situations that other people passing him for insanity are not aware of. In this tragic mystery, Hamlet depicts brilliance in the different junctures an individual perceives the views his reaction and calls unnecessary attention to the people he wants to get the truth from (Kermode, 2000). He was able to show his inner feelings of neglect and conflict because of the bitterness he has suffered angering him from time and again. Although Hamlet's manner of speech and conduct shows insanity he still passes for the ability to ensure that his ability to investigate the issues revolving his father's death gives his sanity concerns.

In some instances, Hamlet convinces the audience of his insanity in his way of reasoning. He needs help but he will not accept it from the people willing to help him. He is only depending on the ghost of his dead father to get the truth and execute his vengeance as planned eventually he is consumed by anger and frustrations leading him to real insanity. ".... he has been ordained by heaven to be its righter and punisher, but he accepts that this will not mean that he is exempt from suffering for wrongs..." (3.4. 175 - 177). His response to some of the situation was true to depict of his insanity because he would not apply to reason to his arguments when hi bitterness leads to depression and anger. However, in the most part of the tragic play, Shakespeare shows that Hamlet is never mad because he is although pretending in the speech he makes when conversing with other characters to pass him for madness and fail to identify his true intentions. In his use of coded, riddles and circumspectly elements in his pretense speak Hamlet is mistaken for insane by those around him but a critical analysis of his character development in the plot shows that he was very conscious of the things he was doing making the rule out for insanity.

Hamlet's mental health deteriorates leading to insanity as he labors to murder his uncle because he felt that his trust was broken and the betrayals he encounters in life leads to the degradation of his sanity (Shakespeare, 1996). Although in his sane perception he was unconsciously prepared that his plan would backfire on him leading to his own death he had not fore sawn the outcomes of mental illness in his part because of the frustrations of the unearthed truth because of the illusion task his father's ghosts left him to execute without clear guidelines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hamlet in Shakespeare's tragic play is depicted with both conscious and unconscious mental insanity as he plots to avenge his father's death showing the two-sided coin to show whether or not Hamlet was insane. The protagonist is demonstrated in the play to poses reactions and response to show the two possibilities of being sane and insane. Sometimes Hamlet shows uncontrollable signs of insanity where his reactions and conduct are questionable for the soundness of his mind especially when he contemplates on the responsibility of avenging the murder of his father. Therefore, throughout the play, the real mental state of Hamlet shows that he was not insane but witty in his canning way of executing his vengeance for the misfortunes and tragedies affecting his family at the series of his uncle but later towards the end of the play he deteriorates his sound mind state into insanity.

Works Cited

Crystal, David, & Ben Crystal, The Shakespeare Miscellany. New York, 2005

Kermode, Frank. Shakespeare's Language. Penguin: London 2000.

Shakespeare, W. Hamlet. In T. J. Spencer (Ed.), The New Penguin Shakespeare. London, England: Penguin Books, 1996.