The definition of insanity is the state of being seriously mentally ill. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character Hamlet is the epitome of insanity. Hamlet shows no remorse or emotion for killing an innocent Polonius, and his two friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, or while he forces a dying Claudius to drink the poisonous wine as Claudius screams for help. His relationship and actions towards his lover, Ophelia, become violent after she withdraws her affections. He is both verbally and physically abusive to Ophelia; until after her death when he claims that he loves her more than her own brother. He even considers taking his own life many times. His act of insanity slowly snowballs into true insanity and madness.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet that are sent to check on him and find the reason behind his insanity. When Claudius sends them to England with a letter asking the king to kill Hamlet, Hamlet switches the letter with one asking for their death instead. Hamlet could switch the letter to say whatever he wants and still get rid of them, however he immediately orders their execution without a second thought. He kills two of his friends without much thought. He never mourns them in
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He often contemplates suicide in the events following his father’s funeral; most famously in his “to be or not to be” monologue. In the beginning of the book he says “”. The first of many times he verbally admits to considering suicide to escape his pain. Then before talking to Ophelia he gives his “to be or not to be” monologue where he contemplates suicide again. Then at the end when Hamlet accepts Laertes’s challenge to battle, Horatio warns Hamlet that it may be a trap, but Hamlet decides to go anyway. “” He was okay with dying as long as he avenges his father’s death when he does it. In many places, suicide is considered insane and a sign of mental