The Role Of Insanity In Shakespeare's Hamlet

In the play, Hamlet experiences a time of turbulence and madness in which he comes to know of his family’s immoral actions. After witnessing his family fall apart in a matter of months, Hamlet becomes increasingly impulsive and dispassionate. Because of Hamlet’s relations with his family and peers, he in turn becomes disillusioned with the idea of love and evolves into a character of despondency and little morality. While in the beginning Hamlet madness starts out as an act, his thinking becomes derailed over time until he becomes intentionally suicidal. When Hamlet had originally discovered his uncle’s true motives and his mother’s lack a sympathy for her husband’s death, Hamlet mourns the loss of trust in his family. As Hamlet states, “O,

His view of his mother, Gertrude, quickly becomes brutal and pitiless. Simultaneously, his desire to answer his late father’s plea occupies Hamlet’s mind in which becomes more erratic than ever before. This can be seen when Ophelia speaks of Hamlet’s incredibly agitated behavior, “Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled, ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;” (2.1.78-80) This image created by Ophelia reveals the outward point of view of Hamlet during this time. Unaware of the shocking details Hamlet had recently uncovered, towards the public his demeanor is anything but rational. This superficial view of Hamlet during this time reveals his growing detachment from the rest of the world as his anger and distaste towards humans are elevated. However, during this period of the play Hamlet becomes wary of the ghost’s motives and soon begins to fear that he is being tempted by the devil. Alone, Hamlet contemplates the situation, “The spirit that I have seen may be the devil, and the devil hath power. T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps, out of my weakness and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, abuses me to damn me.” (2.2.561-565) This quote from Hamlet demonstrates that while his recent actions were out of the ordinary, his ability to think moralistically is still existent. As his anger still encourages him to make precipitous