The Theme of Madness Characterized by Ophelia and Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare :: Papers Hamlet Shakespeare Essays

The Theme of Madness Characterized by Ophelia and small town in small town by William Shakespeare In Hamlet, Shakespeare incorporates a theme of madness with two characters maven truly mad, and one only acting mad to serve a motive. The madness of Hamlet is oftentimes disputed. This paper argues that the contrapuntal character in the turning, namely Ophelia, acts as a balancing telephone line to Hamlets madness or sanity. Ophelias breakdown and Hamlets north-north-west brand of insanity argue for Hamlet having a system to his seeming insanity. The play offers a character on each align of sanity. While Shakespeare does non directly put Ophelias insanity, or breakdown, once against Hamlets own madness, in that respect is indeed a gather definitiveness in Ophelias condition and a clear uncertainty in Hamlets madness. Obviously, Hamlets character offers more evidence, while Ophelias breakdown is quick, further more conclusive in its precision. Shakespeare offers clear evidence pointing to Hamlets sanity antecedent with the first scene of the play. Hamlet begins with guards whose main importance in the play is to give credibility to the ghost. If Hamlet were to see his fathers ghost in private, the argument for his madness would greatly improve. Yet, not one, but three men in concert witness the ghost before even thinking to notify Hamlet. As Hamlet says, O that this too too sullied flesh would melt we screwing see that he is depressed and appalled, but it does not mean he is insane. As Horatio says, being the only one of the guards to play a probatory role in the rest of the play, Before my God, I might not this believe/ Withtaboo the sensible and true avouch/ Of mine own eyes. Horatio, who appears frequently throughout the play, acts as an unquestionably sane alibi to Hamlet again when framing the King with his reaction to the play.That Hamlet speaks to the ghost alone detracts fair from its credibility, but all the men were witn ess to the ghost demanding they speak alone. Horatio offers an insightful warning, What if it tempts you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles oer his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form. Which might deprive your reign of reason, And draw you into madness? Think of it. Horatios comment may be where Hamlet gets the idea to use a plea of insanity to work out his plan.