Summary: Does Hamlet’s Environment Influence His Path To Insanity Or Is It Merely Just An Act

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In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, Hamlet’s emotional and mental state is questioned after events in his life start to unfold. Hamlet begins to receive visits from King Hamlet’s spirit which leads to him discovering who kills his father, King Hamlet. Hamlet is betrayed by his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle, Claudius as they were the ones entangled in his father’s sudden death and conspired to marry quickly after. With the new information Hamlet gathers, he decides to seek revenge that not only affects him but those surrounding him.

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Hamlet’s demented behavior seems to others to be unlike his normal characteristics. Shakespeare utilizes Hamlet’s pursuit of revenge to delineate his potentially deranged mind, the magnitude in which Hamlet’s madness becomes prominent, and the significance of reality and the appearance of madness.

Shakespeare’s play demonstrates many characters seeking to clarify the reasoning behind Hamlet’s unstable state of mind. Hamlet is left alone after being engaged in a conversation with his mother and uncle.

He begins demonstrating solemn thought. Hamlet expresses, “O, that this too solid flesh would melt thaw and resolve itself into a dew” . Hamlet is miserable inside his body, feeling a sense of entrapment. In other words, Hamlet is contemplating the idea of suicide. He is seeking to acquire a sense of life anew or a new sense of well-being; however, he does not know where to begin. Furthermore, Hamlet visits Ophelia and in result leaves her feeling uneasy.

Thus, leading to her feeling the need to report the encounter to her father, Polonius. She announces, “He took me by the wrist and held me hard/Then goes to the length of his arm/And with his other hand thus his brow / He falls to such perusal of my face / As he would draw it. Long stayed he so”. Hamlet’s behavior with Ophelia, causes concerns regarding Hamlet’s emotional and mental well-being which is exactly what he wants. He is using Ophelia to his advantage to provoke Claudius’ attention. Moreover, Prior to the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet confesses the agony he causes for Laertes, “Was 't Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet. If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away, And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes, Then Hamlet does it not. Hamlet denies it. Who does it, then? His madness. However, Hamlet does not take responsibility for his actions, the murder of Polonius’, Laertes’ father. Hamlet uses his “madness” as an excuse for not being in the right mind so therefore he should not be held accountable for his actions of foul play. Hamlet’s state of mind is seeming to be tremendously complex, leading Hamlet into atrocious situations.

Hamlet’s potential madness is prominent throughout the play but at times is more visible than others. The Ghost presents himself in the woods explaining that he is Hamlet’s father. The Ghost appears since he is currently in purgatory and was unable to confess his sins before death. The Ghost has come to seek revenge through Hamlet. Hamlet becomes astonished at the new knowledge that his father was murdered. Hamlet states, “As I perchance hereafter shall think to put on an antic disposition”. Hamlet is saying that he shall pretend to be mad to cover up his acts of revenge and so that he may not be held accountable for his sins. Additionally, Polonius continues to think throughout the play that Hamlet’s reason for being mad is because of his love for Ophelia. Polonius states, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”. Polonius is stating that Hamlet is pretending and there is a purpose for it. Although, Polonius is not correct on why Hamlet is pretending. Hamlet is simply acting to get closer to Claudius and Gertrude in ordered to act on his revenge against each of them. Furthermore, Hamlet vocalizes, “The spirit that I have seen/Maybe the devil, and the devil hath power”. Hamlet has this feeling of uncertainty throughout the play as to whether he should believe this spirit that states his is Hamlet’s father or if the spirit is just the devil playing games with Hamlet. In order to prove if the Ghost is truly who he says he is, Hamlet must find a way to prove that his uncle committed murder upon his own brother.

Individual’s either put on a mask to cover their flaws or show their true self all at once. Hamlet as well as other characters in the play alternate between reality and appearance. Hamlet plans to put on the play for friends and family. “The play’s the thing/Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King”. Hamlet believes this is the best strategy to prove if Claudius was the one to kill his father. Hamlet’s intentions are to get a reaction of guilt with the content from the play from his uncle. This is an example of appearance because Hamlet is portraying the idea that he just wants to give his friends and family a break to watch a play; however, the reality of it is that Hamlet has other intentions for the play. In like manner, after the Ghost tells Hamlet what he wants Hamlet to do, Hamlet mutters, “O villain, villain, smiling damned villain! My tables. Meet it is I set it down/That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain! At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark”. Hamlet is describing Claudius. Hamlet believed that his uncle was an honorable man but nevertheless people put on the mask for the public but shine their true colors when isolated in their own space. Correspondingly, Hamlet and Laertes are fencing and during this fight Gertrude drinks the cup that was meant for Hamlet containing poison. Hamlet asks, “How does the Queen?” and Claudius responds, “She sounds to see them bleed”. Claudius could have protected his wife by telling her what his plan was or what was in the cup despite that he allows her to drink out of the cup leading to her death. This show Claudius’ true colors once again only being concerned with himself. This guides Hamlet with even more rage because both of Hamlet’s parents are essentially killed by his uncle, the man he thought was trustworthy and honorable. One can never assume that everyone has the best intentions. Individuals have to be cautious and protect oneself as well as loved ones.

Prince of Denmark demonstrates to readers through Hamlet that one can pretend to be mad or insane; however, in the end the dissimulate of true feelings will become one’s true enemy. The revenge and rage take over and turns it into true madness. As readers, we see this in Hamlet as Hamlet originally has the plan of putting on an antic disposition to get justice for his father’s death but in the end leads to insanity because the emotions take over. His environment becomes an influence by the other characters investigating his reasoning for his madness. So much goes on that there is no other option then to allow fate to take its course.