12/8 Hamlet (#14)

Ophelia’s Madness
Ophelia goes mad because she is without direction and guidance. Never making decisions for herself, she received guidance found the men in her life, that have now left her. Ophelia sings popular songs of the day to herself. Songs have a lost love theme, reviling her desire to find comfort in Hamlet. At the end of Act IV Ophelia, in her in sanity climbs a willow tree. Accidentally, falling in to the river below, Ophelia continues to sing till her water heavy dress pulls her under. Her parents later explain that she didn’t commit suicide, but climbed the tree for fun and then thought the fastest way down was jumping in the river. Sadly, she forgot how to swim and decided to sing to get the attention of her would be rescuers. The explanation of an accident death allowed for a Christian burial, that would have been otherwise prohibited if she had intentionally drown herself. Ophelia’s death can be seen as a symbolic representation of the kingdom. The kingdom has been stripped of its former leader by Claudius and is now moving without direction, foreshadowing the kingdoms future demise.

Hamlet’s Madness 2

The question will always be posed, is or when does Hamlet become mad. I do not believe Hamlet to ever, even now in Act IV, to be truly mad. His madness is a tool to distract the present King and lower King Claudius’ guard. Hamlet’s actions leading up to his death, parallel that of Ophelia’s. Ophelia, in her insanity, does not recognize the danger she has put herself in. I actually believe she did not commit suicide, but in her madness accidentally happened to drown, this statement is honest and without sarcasm. Insane people are often the cause of their own demise, sorry for the tangent. Similarly Hamlet, in his sanity because he was only pretending insanity, does not realize the danger he has put himself in by accepting Laertes duel. Remember, Hamlet acceptance is not done in rashness of insanity, he did so in sane ignorance falling victim to Claudius’ well thought out plan.

12/3 Hamlet (#13b)

Hamlet’s Madness 1

Hamlet’s madness from the beginning held purpose and was fully under his control. It is evident that he wears his insanity willingly because he warned the guards, after first meeting his father’s spirit, that they should not be alarmed by his future actions foreshadowing his acting of madness. In addition, his plan to verify his uncle’s gilt, could not be done by a mad man. Such a plan could only be conceived by a rational and intelligent person. Again, Hamlet proves sane when he drops the mad act for his mother as he explains his father’s murder. The purpose of his acting mad is not explicitly explained, only that it is part of his plan to revenge his father’s death. It is reasonable to think that it was meant to make his uncle let his guard down.

Ophelia & Gertrude

Gertrude, the queen, is quick to use Ophelia to help lift her son’s spirits. When Gertrude thinks her son has gone mad from a broken heart, she is quick to throw Ophelia back at him. She does not really care about Ophelia, but only for her son.

It is hard to get an idea of how Hamlet feels about his mother and Ophelia because he has been playing mad around them. Before he started his act of insanity he sent love letters to Ophelia, so he probably loves her. It seems he loves his mother, but holds her accountable in someway to his father’s death.

Play within a Play

Shakespeare had Hamlet stage a play in his play. The play-within-a-play partially adds realism to Shakespeare’s play. Just as television shows have actor watching television or characters in books often read. The play Hamlet puts on also alludes to the act he has been putting on, convincing everyone of his insanity.

The speeches and actions reflect poorly on the events in the kingdom of Denmark. They demonstrate the temporarily good, but unstable state of things.

After the King sees his actions replayed on stage he is convicted of his sin and retreats to pray. Hamlet anticipates the Kings reaction and believes it to be clear evidence the ghost told him the truth. The Kings reaction actually puts Hamlet in a good mood. He now knows that he truly did not hallucinate his father’s spirit. In the back of Hamlet’s mind he might have wondered, if while acting mad, if he might really be mad. The Kings reaction evaporated any doubt Hamlet might have had in himself and strengthened Hamlets resolution to revenge his father’s death.

12/1 Hamlet (#13a)

Opening Scene

The opening scene is one of quiet eery stillness. Francisco describes the nights watch as “bitter cold” explaining that it has been a quiet watch “Not a mouse stirring.” In this scene the spirit of the old king crosses Marcellus and Bernardo as they stand guard. The ghost of the king drive the mood of the scene to one supernatural intrigue and mystery. In the fourth scene the ghost reappears. Horatio is more terrified now crying out to the heavens in fear. He believes the ghost’s intensions are to destroy Hamlet either through leading him to danger or as an instrument of insanity. On the other hand Hamlet believes the ghost to be connected to his own fate and shows less fear.

The Ghost

When the ghost finally speaks to Hamlet he reveals himself as Hamlet’s father. The old king’s spirit explains he was murder by his brother who now holds the kingdom and has taken his wife. Hamlet is informed, his father’s spirit cannot rest until there is revenge for his murder and the kingdom is brought to order. Hamlet takes the news quite well, having just conversed with a ghost claiming to be his father and having his world flip upside down with family drama and murder plots. Much better than would be expected of a person in his situation.

After his supernatural family, conference Hamlet tells the guards to tell no one what happened that night. He warns them not to be surprised of his actions in the near future. It is evident he means to put his father’s spirit to rest, taking revenge on his uncle and reclaim the kingdom.

Extra Credit

Polonius cares for his children greatly and does his best to guide them through advice. Laertes and Ophelia respond well to their father’s advice. Ophelia and Laertes act as sibling do, though not necessarily how their supposed to. Laertes is given advice from her brother that she is slow to accept, believing him to be a hypocrite not taking his own advice.