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Hamlet


The first time we see Hamlet lose his level headedness is when he is confronted by the ghost, and threatens Horatio, "Unhand me, gentleman. By heaven I'll make a ghost of him that lets me, I say, away-(I:iv). Hamlet displays the emotional complexity of the tragic fault here. The ghost informs Hamlet that he is to avenge his father, by killing his uncle. After this moment in the play Hamlet comes to the realization that, "Time is out of joint-, and concedes that it is his duty, "O cursed spite, that I was ever born to set it right-(I:iv) to seek vengeance. This request by the ghost puts Hamlet in an hardnosed situation. For he must revenge his father's death, knowing that it will certainly lead to his downfall.
             From this point on Hamlet begins to wear a "mask of madness- using insanity as scapegoat to insure that even if he caught he will not be put to death. This mask falls into one of many double binds that Hamlet must face. Even if he is not put to death and is pardoned from committing the crime, he is still locked up for life. We can see Hamlet's plan to trick the others when he goes to Ophelias room in a state of madness, "Pale as his shirt, knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors-(II:i). Another reason he uses a "mask- is to hide his true feelings and perhaps allow some aggression to be played out through it. Though, it is this very same mask that begins to fit his face. We can start to see his secret becoming a splinter in his mind, as if thoughts become two sided. Yet another hint into Hamlet's madness appears in Act III:ii, by which he already stages a play and by doing so, will let him know the truth of his Father's murderer and at the same time allow Claudius to see his plan. After the he decides Hamlet then tries to logically reason which direction in life, or choice, is dignified to pursue.


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