Mental Affliction In Hamlet
The most influential source of art today is literature. The writings of Shakespeare are relatable today and will remain relevant for years to come. The characters in his plays are not only entertaining, but also display complex themes important to life. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a man returns home to find that his father has died and that his mother has married his uncle. Although his situation may seem severe and far removed from the average life, there are emotions in Hamlet that everyone can relate to: grief, misery, and anger.
This soliloquy portrays Hamlet pondering whether it is better “to be, or not to be”(Shakespeare 3.1.57). The uncertainty and possible instability of life after death is of great concern to Hamlet, as a result he focuses …show more content…
This is one of the reasons Hamlet is such an understandable character. The mental afflictions that affect Hamlet also disturb “people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic groups and geographic locations”(buttecounty.net). Butte County collectively has one of the highest rates of mental illness in California. More specifically, the suicide rate of Butte County is almost two times higher than that of all of California. The soliloquy talks of suicide in an honest way that helps deter others from suicide. Shakespeare’s Hamlet allows readers to connect to a emotional story and shows that you are not alone. Hamlet’s natural reactions to the world around him causes readers to follow the storyline on a deeper …show more content…
Although the cause of Hamlet’s depression and anxiety is extreme and outlandish, more common and less severe cases occur in my life. Hamlet and I view depression as an illness that is “sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought”(Shakespeare 3.1.86). My father has struggled with depression throughout his life. I pretend his mental illness does not take a toll on me, but his lack of motivation weighs on me as well. His children are the reason he holds on to “calamity of so long life”(Shakespeare 3.1.70). My father could have ended his life years ago, but alike Hamlet, my father did not allow suicide to be his ultimate “oppressor”(Shakespeare
This soliloquy portrays Hamlet pondering whether it is better “to be, or not to be”(Shakespeare 3.1.57). The uncertainty and possible instability of life after death is of great concern to Hamlet, as a result he focuses …show more content…
This is one of the reasons Hamlet is such an understandable character. The mental afflictions that affect Hamlet also disturb “people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic groups and geographic locations”(buttecounty.net). Butte County collectively has one of the highest rates of mental illness in California. More specifically, the suicide rate of Butte County is almost two times higher than that of all of California. The soliloquy talks of suicide in an honest way that helps deter others from suicide. Shakespeare’s Hamlet allows readers to connect to a emotional story and shows that you are not alone. Hamlet’s natural reactions to the world around him causes readers to follow the storyline on a deeper …show more content…
Although the cause of Hamlet’s depression and anxiety is extreme and outlandish, more common and less severe cases occur in my life. Hamlet and I view depression as an illness that is “sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought”(Shakespeare 3.1.86). My father has struggled with depression throughout his life. I pretend his mental illness does not take a toll on me, but his lack of motivation weighs on me as well. His children are the reason he holds on to “calamity of so long life”(Shakespeare 3.1.70). My father could have ended his life years ago, but alike Hamlet, my father did not allow suicide to be his ultimate “oppressor”(Shakespeare