Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - English Motif of madness in hamlet Motif of madness in hamlet It is the driving force of mankind that has delivered man from the age of stone to that of industry. This force is also the essential ingredient that produces the inescapable prison of the mind, a frightful disease that may be viewed as the greatest irony of life. Pain is a dreadful disease in which every individual has felt the everlasting effects. The grief of pain can become a crashing wave that leaves behind only a semblance of sanity in its wake. For in thinking there is both life and death. Trapped inside the prison of his mind, chained by a grief consciousness served only to torture him, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, reveals to the world his methods of dealing with pain. Hamlet was a well-developed character in which his rapid and unorthodox decision making lead others to believe his was insane. In Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Hamlet, the playwright utilizes the motif of madness to help depict that appearances are deceptive. Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark loses his father at an early age. Ever since this tragic event occurred, Hamlet was perceived as a troubled individual in a state of madness, a type of madness that develops into insanity. Hamlet presents many clues that in fact he appears to be insane. William Shakespeare does an outstanding job in leading the reader to believe that in fact, Hamlet is insane. “Why, then, ‘tis none to you: for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison. (Hamlet II. ii. 252-254). Hamlet displays his indecisiveness while talking to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. He tells them about the prison in which his mind battles. After the murder of his father, Hamlet begins to question everyone around him. Throughout the entire play Hamlet is careful with his actions. He thinks everything through. Although he delayed his actions longer then Laertes, he planned all his actions out, instead of acting out in a fit of rage. He had to be completely sure before acting. Hamlet was completely aware of his actions and what was morally correct. Hamlet never lost sight of his objective to expose the King’s sin of murdering his father and obtaining revenge. Hamlet was completely sane throughout the tragedy. When Hamlet began to put the pieces of his father’s murder together, he paid special attention to his uncle Claudius. “It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little. ‘Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. (II. ii. 366-371). Hamlet knows that his uncle is the murderer. Claudius further makes it difficult to uncover the truth by announcing that Hamlet is next in line for the throne of Denmark. Shakespeare shows the theme of appearances is deceptive by having Claudius appear to exhibit some affection towards Hamlet. Claudius appears to be a kind and loving person. “As of a father; for let the world take note, You are the most immediate to our throne; And with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart toward you” (I ii. 108-112). Appearances play a major role in the everyday life of an individual. The different appearances in this tragedy make it unique. Through the characters within the play all help to show the theme, appearance verses reality. Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the King all appear to be good and honest. As Hamlet later finds out, all contain lies and have hidden intentions within them. Hamlet uses his knowledge about the other individuals to solve the mystery of their true appearances. Throughout the play Hamlet makes wise decisions to prove he is not insane. He knows exactly what he is leading up to. Hamlet displays indecisiveness by thinking about suicide because of the situation he is in. “To be or not to be” (III. iii. 73). Hamlet would rather be dead than live with the thought of his father’s death going unavenged. When the opportunity was there to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet did not act. He believed that the timing was not right. “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I’ll do’t: and so he goes to heaven; And so am I reveng’d. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain sent to heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge” (III. iii. 74-80). Hamlet says here that he has his chance to kill his father’s murderer, but he is praying. By killing him while he is praying would mean that his soul goes to heaven. If his soul went to heaven then it would not be revenge. This isn’t insane thinking. An insane person would have completed the murder at this opportunity and not wait. They would have been more apt to act on impulse. Hamlet’s madness only existed when he was in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Gildenstern, he behaves irrationally. Shakespeare has Hamlet behave in the manner to further prove the theme of appearances is deceptive. Appearances may not always be what they seem. Hamlet learns this tragic lesson too late. Shakespeare utilizes the motif of madness to help depict the theme of appearances are deceptive. He also uses the characters within the play all help to show the theme, that being appearance verses reality. As each character is presented in the play all appear to be good and honest making it a difficult task for Hamlet to uncover the hidden truth about the nature of each character. As Hamlet dies, he dies with his dignity and revenge. Appearances may have been deceptive, but Hamlet was not mad. He was a tragic hero, and accomplished his goal, one that derived much pain and anxiety. Bibliography: Work Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991. Word Count: 1005
Copyright © 1998-2008 College Term Papers, INC All Rights Reserved. DMCA Notifications and Requests