Method In The Madness Essay Research Paper

Method In The Madness Essay, Research Paper

In both Hamlet and King Lear, Shakespeare

incorporates a theme of madness with two characters: one truly mad, and

one only acting mad to serve a motive. Themadness of Hamlet is frequently

disputed. This paper argues that the contrapuntal character in each play,

namely Ophelia in Hamlet and Edgar in King Lear, acts as abalancing argument

to the other character.s madness or sanity. King Lear.s more decisive distinction

between Lear.s frailty of mind and Edgar.s contrived madnessworks to better

define the relationship between Ophelia.s breakdown and Hamlet.s “north-north-west”

brand of insanity. Both plays offer a character on each side ofsanity,

but in Hamlet the distinction is not as clear as it is in King Lear. Using

the more explicit relationship in King Lear, one finds a better understanding

of therelationship in Hamlet.

While Shakespeare does not directly pit

Ophelia.s insanity (or breakdown) against Hamlet.s madness, there is instead

a clear definitiveness in Ophelia.s condition and aclear uncertainty in

Hamlet.s madness. Obviously, Hamlet.s character offers more evidence, while

Ophelia.s breakdown is quick, but more conclusive in its precision.Shakespeare

offers clear evidence pointing to Hamlet.s sanity beginning with the first

scene of the play.

Hamlet begins with guards whose main importance

in the play is to give credibility to the ghost. If Hamlet were to see

his father.s ghost in private, the argument for hismadness would greatly

improve. Yet, not one, but three men together witness the ghost before

even thinking to notify Hamlet. As Horatio says, being the only of theguards

to play a significant role in the rest of the play, “Before my God, I might

not this believe / Without the sensible and true avouch / Of mine own eyes.

(I.i.56-8)”Horatio, who appears frequently throughout the play, acts as

an unquestionably sane alibi to Hamlet again when framing the King with

his reaction to the play. ThatHamlet speaks to the ghost alone detracts

somewhat from its credibility, but all the men are witness to the ghost

demanding they speak alone.

Horatio offers an insightful warning:

What if it tempts you toward the flood,

my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o.er his base

into the sea, And there assume some other horrible formWhich might deprive

your sovereignty of reason, And draw you into madness. Think of it. (I.iv.69-74)

Horatio.s comment may be where Hamlet gets

the idea to use a plea of insanity to work out his plan. The important

fact is that the ghost does not change form, butrather remains as the King

and speaks to Hamlet rationally. There is also good reason for the ghost

not to want the guards to know what he tells Hamlet, as the playcould not

proceed as it does if the guards were to hear what Hamlet did. It is the

ghost of Hamlet.s father who tells him, “but howsomever thou pursues this

act, / Taintnot thy mind. (I.v.84-5)” Later, when Hamlet sees the ghost

again in his mothers room, her amazement at his madness is quite convincing.

Yet one must take intoconsideration the careful planning of the ghost.s

credibility earlier in the play.

After his first meeting with the ghost,

Hamlet greets his friends cheerfully and acts as if the news is good rather

than the devastation it really is.

Horatio: What news, my lord.

Hamlet: O, wonderful!

Horatio: Good my lord, tell it.

Hamlet: No, you will reveal it. (I.v.118-21)

This is the first glimpse of Hamlet.s ability

and inclination to manipulate his behavior to achieve effect. Clearly Hamlet

is not feeling cheerful at this moment, but if helets the guards know the

severity of the news, they might suspect its nature. Another instance of

Hamlet.s behavior manipulation is his meeting with Ophelia while hisuncle

and Polonius are hiding behind a curtain. Hamlet.s affection for Ophelia

has already been established in I.iii., and his complete rejection of her

and what hastranspired between them is clearly a hoax. Hamlet somehow suspects

the eavesdroppers, just as he guesses that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz

are sent by the King andQueen to question him and investigate the cause

of his supposed madness in II.ii.

Hamlet.s actions in the play after meeting

the ghost lead everyone except Horatio to believe he is crazy, yet that

madness is continuously checked by an ever-presentconsciousness of action

which never lets him lose control. For example, Hamlet questions his conduct

in his soliloquy at the end of II.ii, but after careful considerationdecides

to go with his instinct and prove to himself without a doubt the King.s

guilt before proceeding rashly. Even after the King.s guilt is proven with

Horatio aswitness, Hamlet again reflects and uses his better judgement

<

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать