Theme of Madness and Causes Hamlet and Ophelia Essay

In Shakespeares Hamlet, there are two characters that display qualities of insanity. Specifically, Hamlet and Ophelia, although they both appear to be mad at times, their downfall (or supposed downfall) is quite different. Ophelias madness seems complete while Hamlets is questionable throughout the play. Hamlets madness comes and goes; Ophelias does not. Ophelia tells no one that she is mad; on the other hand, Hamlet shows everyone about his madness. Hamlet turns his madness on and off depending on the company he keeps. Ophelia on the other hand, cannot handle the loss of Hamlets love, her brothers absence, and her fathers death. It is all too much for her and she snaps. Hamlet and Ophelia’s position in society, along with the†¦show more content†¦Hamlet’s state of clinical depression was diagnosed as having too much black bile in the body, but also during that time period the presence of psychological disorders is recognized through just one disorder,  "madness†. Having too much black bile in the body would show melancholy moods and other abnormal behavior (Diderot Pg.308). First Hamlet puts on, â€Å"†¦an antic disposition.† (1.5.172) then he uses the symptoms of a madman to carry the disposition out. The symptoms from the excess black bile signals melancholia depression from the grief of â€Å"†¦his father’s death and our hasty marriage† as Gertrude explains to Claudius (2.2.57). The death of his father and marriage of his mother could be considered a significant conflict in Hamlet’s life. But because of his notoriety in Denmark he’s forced to grieve in silence and even in silence he is told to, â€Å"†¦cast thy knighted color off/ and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark† (1.2.68). Gertrude persuades Hamlet through his love for her to silence himself about the death of his father. Hamlet’s use of wit to simulate madness is that of what only a genius could make of. Hamlet uses a direct tone to talk to those who threaten him, for example: Polonius, Hamlet despises his way of collecting information it is a lack of shame deserving worse than death itself. Polonius says, â€Å"He knew meShow MoreRelatedPoison Motif Within Hamlet By William Shakespeare1227 Words   |  5 Pagesthroughout Hamlet The concept of poison is all around society: poisonous people, poisonous ideas, and poisonous environments; however, the poison in society cannot be avoided, it’s inevitable some would say. As Michael Uhl once put it â€Å"you’ve got to pick your poison†, and hope for the least of the evils, which unfortunately is not always the case. In Shakespeare s Hamlet, the motif of poison functions to be the symbol of corruption throughout the play that highlights the theme of death, madness, and theRead MoreEssay about Theme of Madness Conveyed in Shakespeares Hamlet1150 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Hamlet, one of the most evident and important themes is the theme of madness. The theme is apparent throughout the play, mainly through the actions and thoughts of Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes. Madness is defined as the quality or condition of mental illness or derangement (being insane). Madness is at the center of the conflicts and problems of the play and is conveyed through Shakespeare’s elaborate use of manipulation and parallels between Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes to contributeRead MoreThe Madness Of Shakespeare s Hamlet978 Words   |  4 PagesMind: The Madness of Shakespeare s Hamlet Madness, understood as an abnormal state of mind, broadens across a spectrum of unrecognizable or worrying behaviors. Numerous Shakespearian performances touch on the theme of madness, though Shakespeare s Hamlet displays the idea rather clearly because of the difficulties that the main character endures. Prince Hamlet is troubled by the lack of grieving from his mother after his father had died. Hamlet s mother, Queen Gertrude, remarries Hamlet s uncleRead MoreHamlet : Revenge, Uncertainty, And Madness1252 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet is one of William Shakespeare’s tragedy play surrounded with three major themes: Revenge, Uncertainty, and Madness. Throughout the play, the theme Madness is surrounding the protagonist, Hamlet. Although, nowadays, Hamlet’s madness is still an enigma to the readers. His words and actions are highly debated whether he is deeply submerged in the sea of madness or he is merely acting. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, madness is â€Å"the state of having serious mental sickness, or showingRead MoreEssay about Appearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Hamlet1007 Words   |  5 PagesAppearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Hamlet In Hamlet, one of Shakespeares greatest tragedies, there is a prevailing theme that is concurrent throughout the play. Throughout the play, all the characters appear to be one thing on the outside, yet on the inside they are completely different. The theme of appearance versus reality is prominent in Hamlet because of the fact that the characters portray themselves different from what they really are. In the playRead MoreHamlet : Five Acts Of Acting844 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet: Five Acts of Acting William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is a dramatic play, or perhaps a number of plays within a play. Hamlet himself is the greatest actor throughout the play. The acting motif, used in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, is mirrored through practically every scene and affects each character. Hamlet definitely acts throughout the play, although it is passionately debated whether or not his ‘madness’ is fictitious. Hamlet may be acting—attempting to concoct this madness as part of a revengeRead MoreMadness And Madness In Hamlet1455 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Hamlet, a revenge tragedy, is about Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, trying to figure out the mist behind his father’s death. By talking to his father’s ghost, Hamlet realizes that his father, King Hamlet, was killed by his own uncle, Claudius† (Kara 2). Throughout the play, the theme of madness often occurs from multiple characters. Madness can be defined as a mental disability or a pathological condition of the mind eliminating all rational thoughts caused by an unthinkable injury. These injuriesRead MoreShakespeare s Madness : A Timeless Reflection Of Society1535 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s Madness: A Timeless Reflection of Society The word â€Å"madness† often provokes thoughts of schizophrenia, dementia, and psychosis; however, these illnesses prove not to be the exact cause of the various downfalls to the characters throughout the play Hamlet. The author, William Shakespeare, depicts a different type of insanity in the play, one that seems ambiguous but also feels eerily similar to ones that still affect others to this day. Shweta Bali, author of Mechanics of Madness in Hamlet, MacbethRead MoreThe Decision Of Hamlet s Mental State939 Words   |  4 PagesA theme of ‘madness’ is carefully and creatively manifested within Hamlet. A question that I intend to get out of the way fairly quickly would be the decision of Hamlet’s mental state. There is much controversy surrounding the idea of Hamlet’s madness, and textual evidence can support either side of the argument. However, madness is still at the heart of this play, whether it be real or feigned. Since we cannot prove Hamle t’s sanity, we may still act under the assumption that he has lost his holdRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet 952 Words   |  4 PagesTitle Here Madness is a central theme in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Hamlet’s â€Å"antique disposition† (1.5) is used as a tool of manipulation. He acts mad in order to gain the upper hand over his enemies; he makes them believe his mind is elsewhere to distract them from his long-term goal of avenging his father with Claudius’s death. Hamlet’s portrayal of madness varies depending on which character he interacts with; with Polonius, he focuses on wordplay to make him seem outside of the situation

Essay on The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olauda...

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olauda Equiano The narrative by Olaudah Equiano gives an interesting perspective of slavery both within and outside of Africa in the eighteenth century. From these writings we can gain insight into the religion and customs of an African culture. We can also see how developed the system of trade was within Africa, and worldwide by this time. Finally, we hear an insiders view on being enslaved, how slaves were treated in Africa, and what the treatment of African slaves was like at the hands of the Europeans. Olaudah spends a good part of the narrative acquainting the reader with the customs of his people. He describes the importance of hygiene to his people. Their overall health and vigor was†¦show more content†¦They seemed, if we take him at his word, to be a friendly and civilized people. As he put it cheerfulness and affability are two of the leading characteristics of our nation. The village economy was particularly interesting, and Olaudahs descriptions are very revealing. His people needed guns because other villages had them. The guns were brought to Africa by the Europeans, who used them to trade. (That the Europeans both supplied and fulfilled this need bears mention.) Olaudah states that he had never seen a European; his people traded with wandering merchants who acted as middlemen. These middlemen traded guns for potash, which they probably used in trade again elsewhere. Later in his life Olaudah also saw iron pots, crossbows, and European cutlasses among African people. This clearly illustrates the trade that developed between coastal tribes and Europeans, and the existence of middlemen who worked along established trade routes. There is also evidence of the Columbian Exchange in this writing: the crops that Olaudah mentions his people raised. He says that they grew corn and tobacco, These crops were unknown in Afroeurasia before Columbus returned from the New World barely two hundred and fifty years earlier. These two crops traveled from the Western Hemisphere via very indirect trade routes, over a period of many years. They became staples in a rural village miles from the African coast. This shows the level of sophistication inShow MoreRelatedTriangular Trade Route And The Middle Passage Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagesso close together they were prone to getting disease, which would then lead to death. A famous African American, Olauda Equiano, wrote a book about his experience during the Middle Passage. Equiano wrote The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number of the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us† (Equian o). Many slaves were beaten severely and some even jumped overboard. Death rates were so high that at the end of

What atmosphere does Lorca create in Blood Wedding and how does he create it Free Essays

The classical and highly acknowledged play Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca delivers many symbols and similes which communicates the themes of the play and also create an atmosphere which Lorca directs as he wants it. With an excellent skill of writing Lorca draws the audience into the surreal play with this intense atmosphere. It also makes the spectators understand the deeper meaning of the tale. We will write a custom essay sample on What atmosphere does Lorca create in Blood Wedding and how does he create it? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The atmosphere in the play is ever changing. It starts out as a heavy dark sinister foreboding, the semi-subconscious sense that death will take place in the play with the mentioning of the knife. When it is known that a marriage is to take place the atmosphere is slightly lifted in the joyous occasion. However Lorca quickly shows the conflicts that are taking place within Leonardo and the Bride, and also between them, and the now almost obvious menace that hangs over the setting. The realisation of Leonardo and the Bride’s act, confirming the growing tension, now gives expectations of the murder that has been suspected from the start. With the introduction of the Beggar and the Moon there is a violent and an intimidating atmosphere that is abruptly replaced by the calm sorrow of the last scene. It is easy to see how contradicting and profoundly complex the atmospheres are to each other through each scene, which then gives each more attention from the audience because of this. In the beginning when the Bridegroom and Mother are talking about something as common as the every-day job of going out to gather food it does not indicate any tension that will soon appear. However as soon as Mother curses the knife, â€Å"Damn the knife, damn them all and the devil who brought them into the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Act 1, Scene 1) it is immediately clear that knife it something much more sinister than simply to cut grapes. The sudden contradiction and the fact that this particular symbol will dominate the play strongly marks the dark atmosphere. The constant mentioning of death indicates that this is, as Lorca meant to say, inevitable. This menacing atmosphere never leaves, but stays in the background through the play, since it is obvious that death will sooner or later take place. The tension rises when marriage is mentioned and it is immediately very clear that conflicting forces are behind these events. Leonardo and the Bride’s apparent dislike to their marriages which is seen very early on with Leonardo’s outbursts, â€Å"Why can’t you just shut up?† (Act 1, Scene 2) and the Bride’s aggressive manner, â€Å"taking her wrists Leave them!† (Act 1, Scene 3) confirms that trouble is rising on the horizon and, since the foreshadowing of death is already present, it leaves a breathless feeling, a surge of knowledge of what will happen. The actions of the characters also contribute to the atmosphere. When Leonardo at the wedding party keeps coming and going it gives him a sort of constant menacing aura that reminds us that this occasion is full of contradiction within. At the point when the Bride and Leonardo runs off and people starts to chase them it is like an explosion of events that has been predicted from the very beginning of the play. The Moon’s bloody and violent personality and its conversation with the Beggar tell of the murder that by now is already known to come to be. â€Å"Tonight, I want a heart split wide so that I may warm myself. A human heart for me!† (Act 3, Scene 1) However, it gives that little extra tension from the fact that the Moon may or may not be there to shine and reveal Leonardo and the Bride. â€Å"Quickly! Light†¦light everywhere. Do you here? They mustn’t escape.† (Beggar) (Act 3, Scene 1) The tale of Blood Wedding is told through usually short sentences. This very plain language gives us the sense of the straightforwardness of the peasant community, which then reassures us of an uneventful and calm society. This makes the different atmospheres in the play stand out, as they are certainly neither uneventful nor calm. The colours of each scene are also very important to bring forth the right kind of atmosphere and also the moral notions of the play. For example in the first scene the room is coloured yellow. People might interpret the meaning of colours differently but in the western world yellow is generally considered as the colour of treachery and infidelity. It makes a feeling of what might be expected to happen later on in the scene. There is also used music, â€Å"two violins†, to enhance the atmosphere. Personally I would expect the music that is played as a sad melody with a slight echo to it. This would create an atmosphere which would confirm even more the coming murder, but as there a few indications that the Bride and Leonardo might make it, for example the constant reappearing of the Moon, it makes the uncertainty stand out as the audience is suddenly left to wonder what will happen next. The complete transformation of atmosphere in the last scene is so sudden and unexpected that it leaves a sort of echo of the last scene. With this melancholy calmness it is also easier to bring about the more moralistic purposes of the play without the too fierce tensions that keeps the audience more focused on the events than the message of Blood Wedding. The women weeping and mourning for the dead is also a very good way to give a final feeling that makes the audience understand that the play is over and what consequences it brought, that is death. Lorca uses many skilful ways to make the atmosphere through Blood Wedding. With gestures, colour, music and symbolism the Spanish writer displays a very artistically body created for the play. It is as though Lorca decided to build up such a tense atmosphere just to make the audience hang on to every single word and so pay more attention to the final point made in the last scene, the fact that the Spanish society is very oppressed and that women are kept captured in it even when the men are dead and gone. 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