To what extent is there method to Hamlet’s madness?
Madness can make previously moral individuals commit atrocious deeds. It changes how a person behaves to such a degree that it affects whether or not we place guilt onto the individual. Considering the progression of his madness and morality, it is clear that Hamlet’s madness was largely fabricated. The method behind his madness is clear by analyzing Aristotelian principles. Hamlet’s fatal flaw, or hamartia, is a depleting morality. He begins the story with clear values that drive his response to others’ actions. Regardless of his moral motivations, he responds with horribly unethical actions. The fact that everything is caused by a moral goal, and the resulting crash of morality, proves that his seemingly crazy actions do not come from nowhere. Hamlet’s anagnorisis, or realization of his flaw, is demonstrated when he begins to commit immoral acts, with the understanding of the effects of these acts. This provides readers with the knowledge that he is consciously deciding to act in such a way. This anagnorisis also demonstrates that his behaviour was well thought out and understood, as opposed to being irrational and mad. Lastly, Hamlet’s sanity is proved through his peripeteia, or response to his realization. In his response, he only becomes more and more conscious of his surroundings, whereas true madness would cause a loss of awareness.
Hamartia is one of three traits that is said, by Aristotle, to be possessed by every tragic hero. A tragic hero’s hamartia is a trait that causes them to meet their downfall. Hamlet’s hamartia is his lack of morality, which led him to the decision to feign madness in order to achieve his goals. “By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!” (1, 4, 88) This quotation is a clear example of how Hamlet will put his morals aside in order to achieve his goal. Despite the fact that his goal is to avenge an immoral action, he is willing to act just as immorally. Since he is being driven by this goal, his immoral actions cannot be blamed on madness. “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer!, married with my uncle,” (1, 2, 150) Hamlet uses a metaphor to emphasize his mother’s wrongdoing. He compares her to a beast, saying that she is not even on the moral level of a beast. At the early point in the play, it is already clear that Hamlet’s morals are driving his actions. He has a reason for his actions; his mother’s and uncle’s immoral marriage. Therefore his behaviour is not driven by madness. Considering his role as a prince, he can be assumed to feel a sense of responsibility to uphold good behaviour. This would be something that was known by the audience in Shakespearian time. They would understand why he is taking on the responsibility to fix his mother’s actions, as well as why he believes it is such significant wrongdoing on her part. As the queen she would also have a responsibility to behave properly. By including “O God” in this sentence, it further conveys the fact that he is scandalized and upset. The significance of bringing God into the subject was not taken as lightly in Shakespeare’s time. The audience would have understood the weight behind Hamlet’s criticism of his mother. In the first act, Hamlet describes his uncle as “A little more than kin and less than kind.” (1, 2, 65) This is an aside. Structurally, this proves that it is something that Hamlet truly believes. He is not saying it to get a response out of anyone; only the audience knows what he says. Saying this to the audience demonstrates to them how morality is an important theme, from the beginning of the story. In the Educational Theatre Journal, The Imagery in “Hamlet”: Acting, by Jaqueline E. M. Latham, another author is quoted. The quote from Dover Wilson supports the interpretation that he is pretending to be, or “acting” insane.
In What Happens in Hamlet, Dover Wilson writes, “Hamlet is an actor himself, and never so much at ease as when playing a part. Throughout the whole play we see him in some role or other” (197)
The fact that this is how he is comfortable allowed for him to go too far and reach his downfall. This proves that his hamartia is his immorality and that he has enough sanity to act convincingly.
And so have I a noble father lost, A sister driven into desp’rate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age For her perfections. But my revenge will come. (4, 7, 25)
This quotation by Laertes can be used to support the idea that Hamlet’s immoral actions led to his downfall; his downfall being his death. Laertes gets his revenge in the end, by killing Hamlet.
People often say that acknowledging your faults is the first step to improvement. In tragedies, this acknowledgement can be called an anagnorisis. Hamlet’s anagnorisis is the point where he realizes his ability to manipulate others to get what he wants. In response to being asked if he knows Polonius, he says: “Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.” (2, 2, 175) Hamlet is purposefully disrespecting Polonius in order to manipulate him. He is willing to manipulate situations to his advantage, just as he manipulates through false madness. “Excellent, i’ faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed.” (3, 2, 86) In this quotation, Hamlet uses a metaphor to admit to changing his behaviour to suit the environment and situation. Just as a “chameleon” would blend into surroundings by utilizing the ability to change appearance, he changes his behaviour to control how others view him. He acts differently and fakes madness. “Enter Hamlet reading a book” (2, 2, 168) This stage direction is one of the first times Hamlet’s ability to manipulate others is conveyed. In the context of Shakespeare’s time, reading was a skill held by few. This stage direction involves Hamlet showing off. By making the decision to show off in such a way for one of the first times, it is clear that he has had a realization of how his actions can affect others. This realization allows him to manipulate consciously. Since it is a stage direction, it is something that would actually have been seen by the audience of the time. This would have meant actually seeing the change in Hamlet’s behaviour. A journal article by Taraknath Sen, in The Modern Language Review, supports the belief that Hamlet’s madness was consciously crafted to serve him.
According to this interpretation, Hamlet would be aware of the presence of spies behind the arras in the Nunnery scene and be deliberately talking at them; his fury against Ophelia personally would be a result of his knowledge that she was a decoy. (Hamlet’s Treatment of Ophelia in the Nunnery Scene, 145)
Sen, in his essay, acknowledges how Hamlet’s actions are influenced by his knowledge of his surroundings, absent of madness that would cloud this understanding. Hamlet realizes his ability to manipulate situations.
Everyone’s life is controlled by the decisions they make. Hamlet’s peripeteia is his decision to continue down the path of immorality and manipulation. It is then that the reader can clearly witness the method behind his act of madness. During a conversation with Ophelia in which he insults her deeply, Hamlet asks her, “Where’s your father?” (3, 1, 131) Hamlet is aware, likely even more than others, of his surroundings. By acknowledging the presence of an eavesdropper, he makes it clear that everything he just said was manipulated according to the knowledge of being observed. “I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor room.” (3, 4, 217) In this quotation Hamlet is talking about the body of someone he has killed so casually, which demonstrates how much his morality has fallen. He has made the decision to follow down his current path even after his realization of his immorality. His occasional moments of morality suggest that this was a conscious decision, and was not simply inevitable. He does not go mad, and therefore begins to act in irrational and immoral ways; he actually allows himself to go down that path. “I will speak daggers to her, but use none.” (3, 2, 371) This metaphor, said by Hamlet, carries weight in relation to how he views his mother. He still cares about his mother enough that he doesn’t want to physically harm her, like he harms others and he still has a grasp on his morals that suggests that he is not completely mad. Furthermore, saying that he will “speak” daggers implies that he will purposefully use his words to harm her. By having him say this, Shakespeare further establishes that Hamlet understands the weight that his words carry. He is very aware of the effect he can have on others. Shakespeare often utilizes soliloquies as a structural tool to communicate important character traits and development. Within a soliloquy, Hamlet says, “I’ll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks; I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, I know my course.” (2, 2, 573) Hamlet describes his decision to follow a plan to avenge his father. If he decides his uncle seems guilty while observing the play, he will kill him. While extremely immoral, it is still based on righting a moral wrong. It makes his moral journey, and his increased willingness to act immorally much more apparent. It is also clearly well thought out, and therefore does not stem from losing his mind. In her journal article, Hamlet, Revenge!, Millicent Bell says, “…and his Hamlet not only knows the history of Elizabethan drama but gives judicious advice to actors and can act creditably himself, can write a dramatic script or part of one,” (312) She acknowledges Hamlet’s ability to put on a false role. He has decided to act and manipulate, and to carry down that dark road. This also relates to the context of the time period. Shakespeare lived during the revival of the Ancient Greek tragedies. He held a high level of understanding of classic playwright techniques, and wrote Hamlet to possess that same knowledge. His audience being a population that is known to have loved plays means that they would also notice the knowledge of acting that Hamlet displays.
In conclusion, the actions and the downfall of Hamlet’s character occur due to his decisions and immoral ways. He was never truly affected by madness. From act one all the way to the final act, Hamlet's opinions and views of others’ behaviour is emphasized. Despite this constant, readers can clearly observe that his own behaviour has become significantly less moral. He realizes his power over others and takes advantage of it. He makes the conscious decision to manipulate those around, and this is what causes him to appear mad. All of the madness is an act he uses to manipulate situations to his favour. Shakespeare succeeds in portraying the way someone, even a prince as loved as Hamlet, can willingly walk down a path of cruel and immoral actions.
Work Cited
Bell, Millicent. “Hamlet, Revenge!” The Hudson Review, vol. 51, no. 2, Hudson Review, Inc,
1998, pp. 310–28, https://doi.org/10.2307/3853055.
Latham, Jacqueline E. M. “The Imagery in ‘Hamlet’: Acting.” Educational Theatre Journal,
vol. 14, no. 3, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1962, pp. 197–202,
Sen, Taraknath. “Hamlet’s Treatment of Ophelia in the Nunnery Scene.” The Modern
Language Review, vol. 35, no. 2, Modern Humanities Research Association, 1940, pp.
145–52, https://doi.org/10.2307/3717323.
SparkNotes. Hamlet: No Fear Shakespeare: Deluxe Student Edition. Toronto, Sterling
Publishing Company, Incorporated, 2020.
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