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Insanity In Hamlet

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Sanity on Trial: The Degrees of Madness in *Hamlet*. Madness is a crucial theme in William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*, serving as an essential tool to drive the plot and develop characters. By using a psychoanalytic lens, we can examine the various levels of madness exhibited by characters such as Hamlet's feigned insanity, Ophelia's tragic descent, Claudius's paranoia, and Laertes’s rage. These manifestations of madness explore the effects of guilt and internal rage on human behaviour and the mind. Hamlet, by pretending to be mad, gains the freedom to speak and act in ways that would otherwise be restricted by court etiquette and expectations. This guise allows him to gather information and investigate the actions of others, specifically Claudius, …show more content…

Her madness manifests as the continuous damage caused by the corrupt and vengeful actions of the male characters, a common theme in *Hamlet*. Ophelia's speech and melancholy songs, such as "He is dead and gone, lady, he is dead and gone" (4.5.25-30), reflect her inner pain and loss, showing the effects of the play’s central conflicts on the characters. Her drowning in the river, a supposed suicide, further emphasizes her despair, as she made a complicated decision since suicide was severely frowned upon due to religion. Hamlet says early in the play, “Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon against self-slaughter! O God, God” (1.2.131-132). Later, as Ophelia is being buried, the priest says, “Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown at her. Yet here she is allowed her virgin clients” (5.1.205-206). This highlights the religious and societal condemnation of her actions, adding another layer of tragedy to her character. Ophelia’s madness has a domino-like impact on Laertes, driving him to seek revenge for the deaths of his father and sister. Claudius manipulates Laertes's anger and grief to further his schemes against Hamlet, asking, "Was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of sorrow, a face without a

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