All of what happens in Act IV is a direct consequence of Polonius's murder by Hamlet and his subsequent outrage with his mother, which further solidified her theory that her son was mad. At the end of Act III, Hamlet confesses to Gertrude, after he sees his father's ghost during a rampage with her for her marrying Claudius after he stabbed Polonius, that he has been feigning madness the whole time. He also tells her not to give this news to Claudius. Not easily convinced after hearing her son hold a conversation with an apparition that she cannot see, the first scene in Act IV involves Gertrude running back to her husband to relay the news that Hamlet is completely insane, more so than to begin with. While it is agreeable to see how she would be led to believe this, this action can be seen as strike number two perhaps against her son, number one being her marrying Claudius. While she does not tell Claudius that Hamlet is pretending to be mad, she does slyly hand his throat over to the King, and thus begins the chain of betrayal that unfolds in Act IV. But thats not all that keeps us entertaiined in Act IV. If any of our suspicions about Hamlet actually being insane were raised n Act III, they reach a peak in Act IV. However, everything is falling apart. He is being exiled to Englad(only to return at the end of Act IV), Laertes will kill him, Ophelia drowns herself, Gertrude has sided with her new spouse, and the state of Denmark is beginning to mirror the health of its King.
Is Hamlet actually crazy, or is he the product of this destructive enviroment? How does he respond to this betrayal? Pick a quote an examine it in context that you will use to defend your statements.
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I think Hamlet's pretending to feign insanity is actually what turned him insane. Originally, he acts insane to throw off Claudius, but then after trying to revenge his father's death, he seems to lose all control over himself.
Gertrude betrays Hamlet by telling Claudius of Hamlet's insanity. She says, "To draw apart the body he hath kill'd: O'er whom his very madness, like some ore among a mineral of metals base, shows itself pure; 'a weeps for what it is done" (IV. I. 24-27). Here, she is explaining to Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius and that his insanity has definitely been proven.
Hamlet's mothers betrayal is what truly sends him over the edge. After he briefly goes to England, he returns- ready for his revenge. After being attacked by Laertes, Hamlet plunges into the deep end by stabbing him back. Finally, he revenges the King and both of them end up dying.
Though the reader can never be completely sure if Hamlet is crazy or not, his erratic behavior can definitely be attributed to the destructive environment around him.
When Hamlet first learns from the Ghost that his father was murdered, he is stunned. He was already hurt by the quick remarriage of his mother, and the betrayal of his uncle hurts even more. He begins to act crazy, which the reader at this point knows is purposeful.
However, as the play continues, further betrayals begin to call his sanity into question. He learns Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are spying on him for their uncle, and Ophelia returns his gifts to her. Betrayed by everyone he thought he could trust, Hamlet begins to believe that "Denmark's a prison" (2.2.262). When Rosencrantz responds "Then is the world one", Hamlet despondently replies "A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the' worst" (2.2.263-266). Hamlet's unhappy response shows his troubled state of mind. Feeling trapped and having no one to trust, he begins to lash out at everyone who hurt him, such as Ophelia and Gertrude, and even those who didn't, such as Laertes. His behavior, while violent, is understandable in the situation. He is not crazy, but simply a young man in a terrible situation that he sees no way out of except through murder and revenge. His confusion and anger at the constant betrayals lead him to act crazy, but his violent deeds are not a result of true madness.
Ashley, great point. Earlier, Hamlet acts like he's crazy, but now he may not be predtending. His metal health could be deteriorating.
Andrea, nice job. Hamlet may just be a victim of the environemnt. Maybe he isn't crazy; he's just a man in a terrible predicament.
In the play, we see Hamlet's sanity deteriorate as the play proceeds. I believe that Hamlet's sanity only lessened because of the chaotic and angry environment he was surrounded by. From seeing his dead father's ghost to a once-love of his taking her own life, it is easy to understand how detrimental the effects would be on one. In Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, he begins with the line “To be or not to be.” For Hamlet at that moment, it is an important question, literally one of “life and death”. Hamlet poses the question on his own level of sanity and whether he “can...live like this?”. It is existence itself that is up for debate in this speech, and we are given knowledge of the effects of the play on Hamlet.
Hamlet may be insane on his own accord, but the majority of his mental instability is due to the actions of those around him. The betrayal of his uncle and mother really affected Hamlet's state of mind and caused him to lash out on those around him. He became obsessed with the idea of revenge and eventually killed Claudius, Polonius, and Laertes. This sudden change in character is a direct result of the chaotic environment that surrounds Hamlet. He ponders "to die, to sleep--
No more--and by a sleep to say we end
the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to." The fact that Hamlet was contemplating killing himself truly shows his insanity.
When Hamlet's first symptoms of insanity become evident in the play, it is obvious to readers that his lack of mental health is a mere scheme. However, as the play progresses, it becomes questionable whether or not he is still pretending. In my opinion, he does throughout the play become truly insane, as the actions of those around him, particularly his mother and uncle, deteriorate his mental stability. Shakespeare makes Hamlet's insanity especially potent during one of his monologues where he ponders to himself, "To be, or not to be--that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Or to take arms against a sea of troubles. And by opposing end them." Because this is a monologue and nobody else can hear these ludicrous thoughts Hamlet is trying to work through, it is clear that his lack of mental health is no longer an act to phase his enemies, but a true problem that will continue to haunt him throughout the remainder of his life in the play.
That last comment was Elizabeth Edens on Kristen's account, I forgot to switch before i posted it. Sorry!
In my opinion, Hamlet's pretense of insanity is actually what drove him to legitimate insanity. His anger with his stepfather/uncle, his mother, and the overall situation caused extreme psychological stress on Hamlet, and such stress can be quite damaging. The stress of trying to keep those he loves (as well as those he does not) in the dark about his murderous plans placed an unhealthy amount of concern on his mind. Not knowing who to trust made his mind even more troubled than before and added to the stress. There has been a great deal of scholarly debate concerning whether Hamlet is actually out of his mind, but through my reading I feel that Hamlet is genuinely crazy.
These are great you guys. Anne Stuart, I totally agree. What does everyone else think about the influence that other characters had on hamlet's sanity?
Outstading question, Herbert sisters! Very detailed background with much food for thought! Excellent monitoring and re-enforcement! Thanks everyone for your hard work!
I believe Hamlet is actually insane, but it is because of his surroundings that he has become mad. In his famous soliloquy, which begins "To be, or not to be- that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Or to take arms against a sea of troubles. And by opposing end them,"it is illustrated that Hamlet is torn between many opposing forces and is overwhelmed which all the problems that have arisen in such a short amount of time. His father's death sparked at catalyst of events that brought about not only Hamlet's downfall but also the entire royal family's.
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