HAMLET’S MADNESS v. SARCASM
As we read the famous Shakespearean playwright “Hamlet”, there are a few situations we analyze and seem to find connections between the event in the play and real life events. For starters, we could make a comparison between Hamlet’s madness and sarcasm. Both are concepts that utilize the habits of minds in order to fully understand the play.
In an online article on “The Surprising Benefits of Sarcasm” by Francesca Gino, she speaks on the benefits and liabilities of sarcasm. “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence”, says Oscar Wilde, a connoisseur of wit. This statement can perfectly relate to Hamlet’s condition when he found out the truth on his father’s death; he turns to the use of his intellect to pick the brains of King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia and many more characters. In
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Most readers aren’t able to differentiate his behavior from a demented mind or genuine madness. In an article titled “The Real or Assumed Madness of Hamlet”, the author Simon Augustine Blackmore mentions that “the poet (Shakespeare) portrayed the abnormal actions of a demented mind and that a real madman could not enact the character more perfectly.” We see how Hamlet uses his mimic madness to guard the truth of his father’s fratricide. Simon also acknowledges “the unaided genius of Shakespeare” because of how he creates such a perfect character from a real life tragedy. If Hamlet were indeed using sarcasm to cover up what he knew, this would make him the most intelligent persona in the play. He utilizes him mental situation to help know others better and catch them in the paranoia as the plot builds up. We still can’t be assured if the madness was legit or a fluke but Shakespeare surely did work the magic; mixing sarcasm and madness to create a world famous renowned
Ophelia suspecting the cause of Hamlet’s madness to be his love for her is a clear example of dramatic irony as it shows her not grasping what is the real reason for him acting in that way. The conversation between Ophelia with Laertes and later on Polonius in Act 2 scene 1, leaves the audience with tension as Polonius says “This is the very ecstasy of love, / Whose violent property fordoes itself / And leads the will to desperate undertakings / As oft as any passion under heaven / That does afflict our natures.” (2.1. 102-106) The audience knows that the real reason of his madness is to distract attention from his investigation of the murder by leaving everyone concerned about his mental state.
It is or is it not true that Hamlet was faking his insanity? I’m not saying Hamlet was faking the whole thing. The meaning for insanity on Dictionary.com is “a permanent disorder of the mind.” I don 't think Hamlet had a permanent disorder of the mind he knew what he was doing and even planned the majority of the events that happened. Most of the time anyway.
In his tragedy, Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses diction and sarcasm to foreshadow different interpretations based on connotations and Hamlet’s complex plans to discover the truth in the corrupt kingdom of Denmark. The multiple meanings of phrases represent the internal conflict Hamlet faces, and sarcasm the different masks he wears, as he considers and debates both sides of many situations, leading to his distraction and inaction. Following his inauguration speech, King Claudius speaks to a still-mourning Hamlet, KING. Now, my cousin Hamlet and my son - HAMLET.
There are plenty of examples of Hamlet appearing mad, but there are just as many examples of Hamlet appearing sane, even intelligent. Hamlet is even aware of his madness, which can be seen in the quote, “What I have done that might your nature, honor, and exception roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness… It ‘t be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged; His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy” (273). Hamlet is clearly aware of his own madness, but this does not necessarily invoke his sanity. Hamlet still appears insane,
In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses many references to sanity and insanity. Throughout the play, Hamlet goes back and forth between sanity and insanity, whether pretending to be insane just to mess with those he does not like or to save himself from getting in trouble. Hamlet is actually one of the smartest characters in the play, which is why he can pull off acting crazy so well. Shakespeare uses this idea of sanity and insanity to help the plot change and take a different directions. One of the most discussed topics of the Hamlet is whether Hamlet is insane or if he was just pretending the whole time.
The question of whether or not Hamlet was insane is of a never-ending debate. Was he always crazy? Was he always faking it? Or was he somewhere in between? In this paper I will share three different views and provide my own interpretation of Hamlet’s sanity.
The differences in their madness strongly support the assertion that Hamlet is, in fact, not truly mad. "The mad role that Hamlet plays to perfection is certainly a proof of Shakespeare's genius, but by no means a surety of the insanity of the prince, unless we be prepared to maintain that no one saves a madman can simulate dementia" (Blackmore). As Blackmore points out, his crazy behavior is such that only someone who is not mad could play the part so well. Again, a truly mad person would not have so much control over his actions and
AT times, he behaves in a way where it is difficult for others to decipher, and other times, he is his authentic self. He knows when to act as himself, and other times he will act as someone no one can read. For instance, in Act II, Scene II, Hamlet explains to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, “I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.” In this instance, Hamlet pretends to act insane but subtly reveals his motives when he alludes to the fact that he knows when to act sane and insane.
Hamlet’s depression inhibits his obsession for vengeance due to his inability to take action. Hamlet has suffered emotional trauma and often uses sarcasm to mask his pain. He pokes fun at the situations he’s faced with
A select few scholars believe that Hamlet is not pretending to be mad, but in reality is insane. Hamlet reveals his insanity through his strange behavior toward others. Dr. Simon A. Blackmore claims, “The Real or Assumed Madness of Hamlet” in Shakespearean Online that Hamlet is insane because of the fact that he is able to see a ghost while others cannot (215). Dr. Blackmore in The Real or Assumed... also asserts that in Act III, scene IV, the instance when Hamlet is in Gertrude chamber and Hamlet states to Gertrude that he see a ghost.
He knows that he is under constant surveillance and that any move he makes could be reported to Claudius. By feigning madness, he is able to justify his strange behavior and avoid arousing suspicion. This is evident in his conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, where he uses his madness as a shield to avoid answering their questions. However, despite the fact that Hamlet's madness is a deliberate ploy, there are moments in the play where it seems to be genuine.
An overwhelming amount of evidence shows that Hamlet faked his insanity to confuse the king and his accomplices. Often revered for their emotional complexities, William Shakespeare’s tragic characters display various signs of mental illness. Sylvia Morris notes “Hamlet contains Shakespeare’s most fully-developed study of mental illness, and has always intrigued commentators on the play.” (“Shakespeare’s Minds Diseased: Mental Illness and its Treatment”). When looking at the play, one can infer that Shakespeare makes the relationship between sanity and insanity undistinguishable from one another.
His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy. ”(5.2.180-85) The mental instability that Hamlet manifests lies not in his own consciousness, but in the pragmatic way of thinking that he adopts, and that ultimately poisons his faculty of reason: " I essentially am not in madness/ But mad in craft." (3.4.176-77).
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, there are a series of events that causes Hamlet to act abnormally. He has to deal with his father’s death, mother’s remarriage, and his lover Ophelia. However, it is often argued whether Hamlet’s madness is real or fake. Throughout the tragedy, he is over-exaggerating his madness for his plan of revenge.
The main turning point for Hamlet 's madness when Hamlet facing his mother Gertrude and the conversation is : Gertrude: " Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended" Hamlet: " Mother, you have my father much offended" (Act 3, Scene 4) Hamlet and his insanity can be argued in many ways. Shakespeare displays two many ways; his abilitynof acting or his