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Hamlet Free Response Research Paper

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Hamlet Free Response (Open-Ended) Essay Roy Ashton - Hamlet Free Response (Open-Ended) Essay.pdf Click or select text anywhere on the page to make a comment. In the story "Hamlet," the theme of madness plays a significant role in shaping the narrative and character dynamics. Hamlet's apparent madness is a complex and multifaceted element that reflects both his internal struggles and the external turmoil in the kingdom of Denmark. Hamlet's madness is evident in his erratic behavior, disjointed speech, and unpredictable actions. However, Emily Dickinson's assertion that "much madness is divine sense" is particularly relevant in Hamlet's case. Hamlet's madness serves as a coping mechanism and a tool for introspection. It allows him to navigate …show more content…

This calculated eccentricity can be seen in his interactions with Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. Hamlet's ability to discern the motives and loyalties of these characters suggests a method to his madness. In this context, his delusion becomes a shrewd means of unraveling the political intrigues and uncovering the truth. Furthermore, Hamlet's madness allows him to express his innermost thoughts and feelings without the constraints of social norms. His soliloquies, such as the famous "To be or not to be," provide a window into his tortured psyche. The apparent irrationality of his musings belies a deep contemplation of life, death, and morality. In this sense, Hamlet's madness can be interpreted as a form of divine insight or heightened awareness, challenging the conventional understanding of sanity. The significance of Hamlet's madness extends beyond the individual character to the broader thematic exploration of deception, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of power. The play raises questions about the authenticity of appearances and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. Hamlet's feigned madness becomes a mirror reflecting the deceit and duplicity prevalent in the court of Elsinore.

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In one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Hamlet, the concept of madness sparks great controversy and is known to be one of the most debatable aspects of the play alone. The most prominent victims are Hamlet and Ophelia, where madness becomes rooted into their existence. // The most unmistakable victims are Hamlet and Ophelia, where madness becomes rooted into their existence. The protagonist, Hamlet, first establishes himself as one who displays irrational behavior in familial circumstances/conditions, especially with his sweetheart, Ophelia. Subsequently, this concept is evident when both the fathers meet their passing, resulting in their spiral into insanity.

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Primarily, Hamlet provides hints towards his apparent madness through his seemingly insane dialogues. This is most prominently displayed

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Crawford states that Shakespeare includes Hamlet’s fits of madness were deliberately used to make Claudius and his attendants confused and for them to think Hamlet’s mental health is deteriorating. Crawford analyzes, “The fact that he [Hamlet] has made it appear like real madness to many critics today only goes to show the wideness of his knowledge and the greatness of his dramatic skill” (Crawford. 1916. p 1.). Crawford states that Hamlet is merely acting insane and he is extremely clever for doing this.

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(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1, Line 64). And there is also real madness, like that of Ophelia, who fell into madness after finding out Polonius was killed by Hamlet, and proceeded to drown herself. The Characteristics of the characters are well thought out, and play a huge role in the story. The protagonist Hamlet, is Melancholy, bitter, and cynical.

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The readers are able to have chances to empathize with him. Since Hamlet’s insanity is mysterious, the audience cannot actually know if Hamlet is insane or he is pretending to be. Finally, every main character dies just like in other Shakespearean tragic plays. Hamlet allows people to contemplate human nature by casting questions; how can we distinguish people’s insanity? Is the person who judges others virtuous enough to do

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Any attempt to give any meaning or interpretation to him ultimately fails to satisfy all critical lenses. Hamlet's madness cannot be definitely defined. "Who does it then? His madness, Ift be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;" (V.ii.11233-35). Behind Hamlet's madness is some secret of human nature he has learned, which the audience hopes to have revealed, because among the biggest ambiguity in the play is whether Hamlet is genuinely insane or really good at manipulating the other characters; "[We] come to expect some resolution at the end of the tragedy, some unambiguous 'giving out' which will report Hamlet and his cause aright to the unsatisfied among the audience" (Brown

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It also contains what is perhaps his most famous line: “To be or not to be: That is the question” (III, i, 56). In this play, Hamlet is conflicted throughout pretty much the entirety of the action. This uncertainty leaks over into the plot of the play as well as the mind of the reader. Unlike Macbeth, this play does not spell out the deceptive actions of its main character. While Macbeth plainly states in asides and dialogue with his wife that he is planning to mislead other characters, Hamlet does not openly speak of his tricks.

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