Term Papers on Method In The Madness: Hamlet’s Sanity Supported Through His Relation To Ophelia

Term Paper Title	Method In The Madness: Hamlet’s Sanity Supported Through His Relation To Ophelia
# of Words	1822
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	7.29

Method in the Madness: Hamlet’s Sanity Supported Through His Relation to Ophelia and Edgar’s Relation to Lear

                    In both Hamlet and King Lear, Shakespeare incorporates a theme of madness with two characters: one truly mad, and

                    one only acting mad to serve a motive. The madness of Hamlet is frequently disputed. This paper argues that the

                    contrapuntal character in each play, namely Ophelia in Hamlet and Edgar in King Lear, acts as a balancing argument to

                    the other character’s madness or sanity. King Lear’s more decisive distinction between Lear’s frailty of mind and Edgar’s

                    contrived madness works to better define the relationship between Ophelia’s breakdown and Hamlet’s

                    "north-north-west" brand of insanity. Both plays offer a character on each side of sanity, but in Hamlet the distinction is

                    not as clear as it is in King Lear. Using the more explicit relationship in King Lear, one finds a better understanding of the

                    relationship in Hamlet.

                    While Shakespeare does not directly pit Ophelia’s insanity (or breakdown) against Hamlet’s madness, there is instead a

                    clear definitiveness in Ophelia’s condition and a clear uncertainty in Hamlet’s madness. Obviously, Hamlet’s character

                    offers more evidence, while Ophelia’s breakdown is quick, but more conclusive in its precision. Shakespeare offers clear

                    evidence pointing to Hamlet’s sanity beginning with the first scene of the play.

                    Hamlet begins with guards whose main importance in the play is to give credibility to the ghost. If Hamlet were to see his

                    father’s ghost in private, the argument for his madness would greatly improve. Yet, not one, but three men together

                    witness the ghost before even thinking to notify Hamlet. As Horatio says, being the only of the guards to play a significant

                    role in the rest of the play, "Before my God, I might not this believe / Without the sensible and true avouch / Of mine own

                    eyes. (I.i.56-8)" Horatio, who appears frequently throughout the play, acts as an unquestionably sane alibi to Hamlet

                    again when framing the King with his reaction to the play. That Hamlet speaks to the ghost alone detracts somewhat from

                    its credibility, but all the men are witness to the ghost demanding they speak alone.

                    Horatio offers an insightful warning:

                    What if it tempts you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o’er his base into the

                    sea, And there assume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason, And draw you into

                    madness? Think of it. (I.iv.69-74)

                    Horatio’s comment may be where Hamlet gets the idea to use a plea of insanity to work out his plan. The important fact

                    is that the ghost does not change form, but rather remains as the King and speaks to Hamlet rationally. There is also good

                    reason for the ghost not to want the guards to know what he tells Hamlet, as the play could not proceed as it does if the

                    guards were to hear what Hamlet did. It is the ghost of Hamlet’s father who tells him, "but howsomever thou pursues this

                    act, / Taint not thy mind. (I.v.84-5)" Later, when Hamlet sees the ghost again in his mothers room, her amazement at his

                    madness is quite convincing. Yet one must take into consideration the careful planning of the ghost’s credibility earlier in

                    the play.

                    After his first meeting with the ghost, Hamlet greets his friends ch...

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