INTO THE MOUTH OF MADNESS: ANALYSIS OF HAMLET AND INSANITY

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INTO THE MOUTH OF MADNESS: ANALYSIS OF HAMLET AND INSANITY “To be, or not to be: that is the question:” or is it really? Perhaps the more pressing issue is rather these immortal lines where uttered by the lips of a madman in the grips of insanity. Madness has major importance in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and certain questions beg to be answered. Is Hamlet truly insane? Or is he merely angry? Or does Hamlet cross the line between sanity and insanity without even realizing it? The best answer to all these questions is simply “yes!” However, it would appear Hamlet’s madness and irrationality led to his own downfall, and also the destruction of the lives of those around him. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet demonstrates the destructive nature of insanity and mental illness, and it is this destructive nature that makes Hamlet a true tragedy in every sense of the word. It is not that hard to believe that Hamlet has gone insane if one simply looks at the circumstances that could have made him lose his grip on reality. For one thing, his father, the former King of Denmark has died; and before he is cold in his grave, Queen Gertrude has married Hamlet’s uncle, the new King of Denmark Claudius! This alone would cause most to go insane; and the reason why relations between Hamlet and Claudius become strained, and Hamlet’s attitude becomes destitute. Since the death of his father, Hamlet has been what appeared to be in a state of madness. His madness is the result of his fragile personality being confronted with the great anguish of his father’s passing. Hamlet proves to be a man-child—incapable of dealing with heavy issues. The queen encourages him to look to the future, and to cease his grieving, believing it false. Hamlet responds angrily to her suggestion, “But I have within which passes show; these but the trappings and the suits of woe” (I.ii.88-89). Hamlet’s

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