How Does Hamlet Brink Of Insanity

On the Brink of Insanity

The main character, Hamlet, in William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Hamlet is possible the most complex and controversial character in any playwright. Hamlet, the main character offers a puzzling and ambiguous persona and is often contradicting himself leaving readers to question who the real Hamlet is. Hamlet’s erratic behavior ultimately poses the question: Is he being rational in his acts and sacrificing his life for the greater good, or has he simple gone mad? Throughout the play, we watch Hamlet go through several different stages of his life, constantly being stuck in a somewhat torturous mental state caught between grief, love, and vengeance. These different states of mind relate the idea that Hamel is teetering on the brink of insanity induced by his actions and the actions of those around him. At
the very beginning of the play Hamlet, Bernardo sets the stage by asking the question “Who’s there?” (1,i,3) This question is repeatedly asked in several different ways throughout the play. Does Hamlet even know who he is himself? We often find ourselves asking if the “real” Hamlet will step forward and make a decisive and righteous decision about his life and father’s death, or will he be timid and an uncertain fumbler who is unable to make up his mind about life and death. Just before Hamlet poses the so famous question, “To be or not to be” (ii,I,105), the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, confronts him and informs him that “The serpent that did sting they father’s life now wears his crown.” (1,V 35-39). Hamlet now realizes that his father’s life was not taken by a random stranger, but rather by his father’s own brother, Claudius. The strange appearance of Hamlet’s father’s spirit, one would have thought, would have been motive enough for Hamlet to take action, but Hamlet’s indecisiveness causes him to hesitate in his actions and beliefs toward Claudius. Had Hamlet acted impulsively (as many would have done), Shakespeare would have deprived his audience of a psychological tragedy. Hamlet’s wrestling of his conscience provides the audience leeway to create their own belief as to how Hamlet will resolve his internal depressive struggles. Hamlet’s behavior is indescribable. He can be seen in so many different lights from being seen as a victim of circumstances to an innocent man who quite honestly just laked the willpower to avenge his father the King. However, Hamlet can also be viewed as somewhat manic-depressive whose mood, such as his failure to make decisions or take revenge, deepens into self contempt. Hamlet was given this somewhat disturbing trait of laughing at the short-comings of the world, as well as at his own grief. This trait contributes to the overall complexity of hamlets character and levl of insanity. This disturbing trait of laughter becomes one of the main qualities of Hamlet’s mind that enables him to avoid reality and postpone his mission for revenge; or suicide. Hamlet was once a young person of high intelligence raised to occupy a high status in life when he was struck with a violent and terrifying situation resulting in him making several rash decisions. Hamlet admits to not being ready for such a difficult task: “the time is out of join O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!” (1-5,188-189). At this point, hamlet’s mind is torn to shreds because of the controversy of vengeance. It is not surprising to see him veering between extremes of behavior in search of the most appropriate way to carry out his task. Hamlet’s sanity is clarified within the first act.
We begin to see Hamlet’s sane side by reading statements and understanding the feelings that are expressed within Hamlet’s dialogue. When Gertrude asks Hamlet about his depressed state and demeanor, Hamlet replies “Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” (1,ii,76) This statement clarifies the idea that Hamlet truly is what he appears to be. Later on, Hamlet makes a statement about his mental health when he claims to avenge his father’s murder. We begin to allow ourselves to follow Hamlet’s spastic train of though in regards to his role as a student, mourning-son, revenge seeker, and prince to the thrown. “I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all preasures past that youth and observation copied there, and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain.” (3,ii, 100) Hamlet is stating his utmost commitment to nothing short of revenge of his father’s death. At this point in the play, there is very little doubt about his state of mind or intentions. The next act, however, takes a turn for the
worst. Hamlet’s sanity and reason begin to be belied at the start of act 2 all the way to his death at the end of act 5. As Hamlet appears again, it becomes apparent that he has lost all conviction to finish his destiny as told by the ghost of his father. Within these last 3 acts, Hamlet, instead of carrying out the destiny his father’s spirit had wished, being a vengeful son, Hamlet begins to portray some insane behaviors. This insanity is best illustrated by his statements to Guildustern and Rosencrantz, “I know not – lost my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises.” (3,ii,282). Soon after, Hamlet admits that he is feigning insanity, “I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.” (3,iii,350) Aside from insanity, Hamlet also exhibits a willingness to accept this fact of insanity. “for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” (4,I,241). Here we begin to realize that Hamlet’s behavior is shaping his new reality. Through acts 3 and 4, Hamlet is continuously prompted toward vengeance- this becomes prominent when Hamlet responds to one of the players speech by saying “What is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should weep for her? What would he do had he motive and eye for passion that I have.” (4,I,515). Here Hamlet is attempting to say that if he were such a good actor, he would have killed Claudius by now. Here lies the struggle between vengeance and acting that is persistent throughout the entire play. At this very moment, Hamlet agrees to avenge his father, “I should have fatted all the region kits with this slave’s offal: bloody, bawdy villain!” (5,I,230). The audience now sees Hamlet as the insane man he truly is. Hamlet is quite possibly the most famous tragedy in history. Hamlet’s puzzling persona adds depth to a seemingly simple playwright. Hamlet’s erratic behavior sets the stage for the entire play. The question he poses; being insane or completely sane, allows for audiences across the globe to form their own opinions of Hamlet and be dumbfounded by the outcome of the play.