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. 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