" (V, i, 221-223) From these two conflicting actions, one must question Hamlet's true feelings for Ophelia. Was he merely acting mad when he claimed to have never loved her? From his show of overwhelming grief upon her death, it appears that he did indeed love her and had carefully planned to convince her otherwise. Perhaps true madness finally overtook him at her funeral and compelled him to reveal himself by jumping into her grave. (Munro, par. 2).
Other circumstances, which add to the theory that Hamlet is truly mad, are demonstrated in Act III, scene ii, which takes place in Gertrude's chambers. Hamlet's distemper is initially brought on by the incestuous and hasty nature of Gertrude's marriage to Claudius. According to Dr. Ernest Jones, when psychologically analyzed, Hamlet's responses to the marriage may be considered excessive and abnormal. (qtd. In Waldock 50) This can be seen when Hamlet goes to see his mother in her room. He acts violently towards her and threatens, "You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you." (III, iv, 18-19) Gertrude fears for her life and believes that Hamlet has come to murder her. In this scene he seems to reveal all the torment and dark thoughts that he has been carrying around since the marriage. "The loathsome broodings that had made his mind a hell now appear in all their hideousness in the light of day." (Waldock 58) .
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In the same scene, two other events are indicative of Hamlet's madness. He horrifies his mother by blindly killing Polonius, who is hidden behind the arras. He somewhat dismisses the murder by calling Polonius a "wretched, rash intruding fool." (III, iv, 33) However, in Act V, Hamlet tells Laertes that Polonius was killed in madness.
If Hamlet from himself be ta"en away,.
And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,.
Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.
Who does it then? His madness.
Hamlet Hamlet is a young man who's father dies and his life is turned upside down. ... Hamlet is battling his conscience. ... Hamlet is extremely indecisive. ... Hamlet wants to kill his uncle because he killed hamlets father. ... Hamlet only trusts Horatio. ...
The old king Hamlet is murder by Claudius and therefore Hamlet must take his revenge. ... Hamlet begins to doubt the ghost. ... Hamlet is contradicts himself. ... Hamlet's next problem is that of morality. ... Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. ... Laertes is decisive and Hamlet is not. ... Fortinbras acts as Hamlet's inspiration; he motivates Hamlet to go forward with his plan to kill Claudius, which in the end leads to Hamlet's downfall. ... Horatio is Hamlet's friend and solid rock on whom Hamlet can trust and depend. ... Horatio cared for Hamlet greatly, and so Hamlet cared greatly for Horatio. ...
KING Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HAMLET At supper. ... If Claudius does not stand on one side of a titanic conflict, his betrayal of Hamlet's father and Marriage to Hamlet's mother, do ignite one: Hamlet's conflict with himself. ... In the end Hamlet dies along with most of the principle characters whether they were duplicities against Hamlet or not. ... By the end of the play Hamlet has thoroughly explored the question but like Hamlet, it remains an enigma. ...
Hamlet The study of Shakespeare's Hamlet has been one that is very extensive as well as enormous. ... A critic of Hamlet once said, "a man set out to read all the books about Hamlet would have time to read nothing else, not even Hamlet." ... "Hamlet is the tragedy of reflection. ... For where Hamlet saw that "the time is out of joint," Hamlet himself was "out of joint." ... (Mack. 64) Hamlet begins his questioning with the death of elder Hamlet. ...
Hamlet 1 Throughout Hamlet, Hamlet expresses his thoughts via several soliloquies. ... In this scene, Hamlet is being "set up" by Ophelia, Polonius, and Claudius. ... This is quite different than the "emotional Hamlet" seen in 1.2, or the "vengeful Hamlet" seen in 1.5. ... The three claim to be concerned for Hamlet's mental state of mind. This is ironic, because as the characters within the play see Hamlet mentally deteriorating, readers see Hamlet mentally developing. ...
Hamlet Tania Kozie-Slobodzian Hamlet is categorized as one of Shakespeare's tragedies. ... Horatio a friend of Hamlet tells Hamlet that he is afraid because he thinks he has seen a ghost who resembles the late King. ... The Ghost of Hamlet's father appears in front of Hamlet. The ghost is in fact Hamlet's late father. ... Now that Hamlet is said to be crazy, Polonius goes to the King and tells him about Hamlet's strange behavior concerning Ophelia. ...
