Shakespeare's Hamlet is a tragedy containing elements of betrayal and revenge. Prince Hamlet is one seeking revenge for the untimely death of his father. Through the other characters? subjective opinions, Hamlet appears to be mad. However, through Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony, the audience is able to deduce that Hamlet'smadness? is feigned as part of his calculated scheme.
Hamlet's scheme was clearly stated in Act 1.Scene 5. How strange or odd someer I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on)? It is plainly stated by Hamlet, when he wassane,? that he will feignmadness? in accordance with successfully seeking revenge for his father's death. .
Many of the characters view Hamlet asmad? and this is shown in the way they attempt to interact with him. Polonius is a good example of this. In Act 2.Scene 2, Polonius? interaction with Hamlet, if taken out of context, could lead the reader to believe that Hamlet is mad. Polonius asks Hamlet if he knows him to which Hamlet answers,Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.? Looking at this statement through the eyes of Polonius, one might believe Hamlet to be quite far gone. The readers see that this is Polonius? opinion, later, when he says aside,How saw you by that? . . . Yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger. He is far gone. Polonius is quite convinced that Hamlet is mad.
However, through dramatic irony, the audience is able to see Hamlet chastising Polonius without him even realizing it, thus creating a humorous scene. By calling Polonius a fishmonger, Hamlet is using superior wit to mock Polonius. This whole scene is quite ironic because, although Polonius believes he has theupper-hand? or higher intelligence, in actuality Hamlet is playing him like a fiddle.
The characters also are convinced that Hamlet'smadness? stems from his love for Ophelia, Polonius? daughter. Polonius says, in Act 2.
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. ...
