Hamlet Observations Of Madness Essay Research Paper

Hamlet Observations Of Madness Essay, Research Paper

Observations of Madness

Over the centuries, many famous, and infamous writers, thinkers and individuals have analyzed, re-analyzed, and interpreted Shakespeare s works. One of the most analyzed plays in existence today is the tragedy Hamlet, with its recurring question: “Is Hamlet s ‘antic disposition’ feigned or real.” In truth, this question can only be answered by observing the thoughts of the main characters in relation to the cause of Hamlet real or feigned madness. In the tragedy Hamlet, each of the main characters explains Hamlets madness in their own unique way. To discover the cause behind the madness of Hamlet, each character used their own ambitions, emotions and interpretations of past events. Characters tried to explain Hamlet’s “antic disposition” by means of association to thwarted ambition, heart breaking anguish, and denied love. In the workings of their thoughts, the characters inadvertently reveal something about their own desires, emotions and experiences to the reader.

The thoughts of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz present the reader with one possible factor for the cause of Hamlets supposed madness. The two men believe that the cause for Hamlets madness is his lack of advancement or thwarted ambition. In a conversation with Hamlet in Act II scene II, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz come upon this idea:

Hamlet: Denmark’s a prison.

Rosencrantz: Then is the world one.

Hamlet: A goodly one; in which there are many confines,

wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ the worst.

Rosencrantz: We think not so, my lord.

Hamlet: Why, then, ’tis none to you; for there is nothing

either good or bad, but thinking makes it

so: to me it is a prison.

When the heir apparent calls his heritage a prison, something must be seriously wrong, and it is not difficult for them to guess what that something is. As prince of Denmark, Hamlet was next in line to become king. Unfortunately, his mother s marriage to his uncle removed the short-term possibility for Hamlet to become king. Continuing on,

Rosencrantz: Why then, your ambition makes it one;

’tis too narrow for your mind.

Hamlet: O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count

myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I

have bad dreams.

Guildenstern: Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very

substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.

Hamlet: A dream itself is but a shadow.

Rosencrantz: Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a

quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.

(Act II scene II)

From the start of the discussion, Rosencrantz believes that it is Hamlet s denied ambitions that creates Hamlet s negative view of everything around him, including his soon to be kingdom, Denmark. Guildenstern soon jumps onto this bandwagon, and joins Rosencrantz in explaining to Hamlet that it is denied ambition that is the cause of all his troubles. For their efforts, Hamlet latter uses the same cause to dismiss Rosencrantz s questions:

Rosencrantz: Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper. You

do, surely, bar the door upon your own liberty, if

you deny your griefs to your friend.

Hamlet: Sir, I lack advancement.

Rosencrantz: How can that be, when you have the voice of the king

himself for your succession in Denmark.

By telling Rosencrantz what he has already discovered, Hamlet keeps the true reason for his feigned madness to himself, helping everyone around him to find his or her own explanation for it, and hiding the shocking truth from everyone. Rosencrantz s and Guildenstern s need to discover the cause of Hamlet s madness arises out of their desire to please the king and gain favor in his eye. However, their decision on lack of advancement as the cause shows something about the characters themselves. The two men obviously care a great deal about their own personal success. This can be seen by their actions of spying on Hamlet in the above scene, and later, their betrayal of Hamlet. Hamlet himself latter tells Horatio of their wrong doings and his own feelings towards them:

Hamlet: Why, man, they did make love to this employment;

They are not near my conscience; their defeat

Does by their own insinuation grow:

‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes

Between the pass and fell incensed points

Of mighty opposites.

(Act V scene II)

Guildenstern and Rosencrantz in their attempt to make the kings favor, escort Hamlet to England. In return for their dutiful service and heightened ambitions, the rewards for both men are the same, death without trial or question. Hamlet also comments that he feels no guilt for friends that betrayed him, and that men who betray others deserve their fruits in life, in this case, death.

Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord.

Hamlet: Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his

rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the

king best service in the end: he keeps them, like

an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to

be last swallowed: when he needs what you have

gle

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