Hamlet Essay, Research Paper
The question of Hamlet s insanity is a question raised by many people, is Hamlet a great actor, or has he lost complete sense of what s real? There is no right answer, there is no wrong answer, many readers have different perceptions on what really was going through Hamlet s head.
My perception is that hamlet comes full circle with his insanity, and at points lets it get the best of him, and brings him down to a extremely low point. In the beginning of the novel that Hamlet s spirits aren t all there, and his soul is disturbed, by the death of his father. He seems to be looking for answers and meaning to explain the unexplainable death of his father and his mother s abrupt marriage to his uncle, this is where I believe his insanity started. Given that this happened to anyone normal person, they re mind would be a mess and bitterness and anger would play a huge part in their thoughts.
So, yes in a way, I do believe that Hamlet was diseased with temporary insanity. The Ghost of Hamlet s father, was in way another brick of burden for Hamlet to carry, and did nothing but add confusion and anger to his already disturbed mind. After this I find hamlets madness to grow, he his blinded by bitterness and anger towards his uncle so much that he loses sight compassion for life and love. Hamlet truly loved Ophelia, In my eyes, and I do believe that if his mind was not clouded with anger, he would ve done nothing to ever harm her. Hamlet without even realizing, because of his insanity used Ophelia as a release for his anger, and eventually drove her mad. He basically tortured Ophelia without even knowing, not only by the progression of anger and rejection towards her, but also by killing her own father.
The killing of Polonius, I believe to be Hamlet s peak of insanity, the fact that he killed a man without even knowing who it was nor caring, I have to say is insanity at its best. Hamlet seems to have no perception of reality nor compassion at this point, his anger towards his uncle has completely blinded him and messed him up beyond belief. Another sign of Hamlet s insanity is that he completely rips into his mother. There are very few people in this novel, I believe Hamlet to truly care about, but one person is definitely his own mother.
As I said I believe Hamlet has lost all perception of love, this is why I believe he became very hostile with his Mother. The re-appearance of the ghost of Hamlet s father, began to put hamlet s mind more into in reality and focus, I think this makes him understand that his a
If the ghost did not help guide Hamlet at this point in the novel, I think Hamlet s insanity would ve rapidly grown and he probably would ve done something completely irrational, to his mother or to anyone else who stood in way. The second step to the snapping out of Hamlet s temporary insanity is Ophelia s Funeral, this is where I think he truly realizes to preciousness of life and love, and his mind becomes less clouded by anger.Hamlet is reminded of the beauty of life and love and how it can be taken away with the drop of a hat, he also realizes the harm he has done to poor Ophelia. Even though Hamlet s actions are insane, at Ophelia s funeral, I do believe his thoughts are purest and clearest they ve been, so far in the novel.
At this point in the novel, I believe, Hamlet is feeling a huge amount of sorrow and guilt, he wants to try to right all the wrongs he s done. I think the idea of getting revenge is pushed aside, by the feeling guilt and need to make amends, especially with Letertis. This is why I believe he accepts to fence Lertis. There is a debate about whether Hamlets apology to Laertes is whole hearted. Some say Hamlet s just acting, but I do believe it came straight from the bottom of Hamlet s heart. Hamlet knows he harmed Laertes and had no reason to, and I believe he feels extremely guilty, and wants to make amends with him, more then anything.
I think Hamlet s Temporary insanity is completely gone, by the time he is asked to fight Laertes, But at this point I believe Hamlet to be fairly depressed, and that s why I think he agrees to the fight. Hamlet maybe not be the most mentally stable guy, but he isn t stupid, so he has to know there has to be something more to this fencing match, the thing is at this point I don t think he cares, or even knows what to expect, so he just accepts. I think that Hamlet was almost safer during is period of insanity , because he didn t put trust in anyone, and was always on alert.
When he finally snapped out of the temporary insanity, he became more venerable, and more easily played by his uncle. By Hamlet coming out of his insanity, it did protect all the people around, from the potential harm he could ve caused, but in way left him unprotected from the harm to come, this is why the ending of Hamlet, I believe to be so tragic.