Crafty madness Essay

small towns situation in the play concerning family and love for Ophelia is obviously going to actuate him, however the term half-bakedness has been questioned as too dramatic and perhaps a more accurate antecedent to describe Hamlets demeanour is sombre demeanour. Melancholic behaviour is a condition causing emotional insanity accompanied by extreme depression. Many incidents and speeches of Hamlet are same to melancholic behaviourKing Was non like madness. Theres something in his soul,Oer which his melancholy sits on brood.(Act 3, Scene 1)Although this term is not commonly used these days, in the past and still in Shakespeares period melancholic behaviour was a recognised condition.Further support that melancholic behaviour was commonly termed in the 16th century comes from Timothy Brights Treatise of Melancholy (1586) The perturbations of melancholy are for the most part sad and awfulas distrust, doubt, diffidence or despair sometimes furious and sometimes merry in appe arance, through a kind of sardonic and false joke as the humour is disposed that procureth these diversions.Therefore not only would Shakespeare be familiar with this behaviour but the audience of the time would also identify it.This condition could be identified by symptoms Hamlet shows for model, Hamlet with good reason displays suits of woe, he sighs and hisdejected haviour of the visage(Act 1, scene 2)In particular after Hamlet has spoken to his fathers ghost he begins to feel paranoid, he even distrusts the ghost at first not only that but the excellence of Ophelia and his own inability to act.Other relevant symptoms include the fury towards his Mother because of her marriage and his sardonic joking with the players from The Murder of Gonzago and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.The theory of melancholic behaviour is purportible and rational especially as it was a recognised condition at the time the play was written, however, it doesnt explain enough of Hamlets behaviour or th e language, which is used to portray it.In some parts of the play Hamlet talks to other characters and appears to be mad when he is obviously not. For example in Act 2, scene 2 Hamlet seems to patronize Polonius by answering his questions in a way he is clearly in witness ofPolonius Do you know me my Lord?Hamlet Excellent well, you are a fishmonger,Hamlet obviously knows Polonius, but as Polonius has asked him this question as if he were mad Hamlet answers as if he were mad, but clearly just to humour him. This is supported by Hamlets statement as Polonius leaves the roomThese tiresome old fools(Line 219)Hamlet also taunts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and leads them astray by what they realise as, Crafty madness. To add to this the way in which Hamlet expresses his feelings to his Mother all suggest his behaviour and the way he talks to people isnt madness but excuse to act how he feels and speak his mind in a court where no one speaks the truth.This style of Hamlets is allusively presented in his language which also through his madness is allowed to be more rich and seminal rather than aristocratic like the other characters. Hamlet uses many proverbial sayings and puns in the play.The authenticity of Hamlets madness is a mystery that cannot be solved, this is perhaps why the play is enjoyed by the audience so much, the huge sense of mystery and uncertainty surrounding Hamlets madness is a main attraction of the play.It is possible that Hamlet is suffering from madness of some sort as my essay suggests perhaps melancholic behaviour, or the petulance and jealousy Hamlet feels is just too much for him to conceal. However it is also possible that Hamlets behaviour is madness put on by himself, there is evidence to support this theory as everyone in the play who states that Hamlet is mad has like himself got reason to imply this.Hamlet has stated that he would consider putting on an antic disposition as a disguise to conceal his revenge plot against Claudius.I t is also a very satisfying point that the play of Hamlet is not a true story and consequently Hamlet is not a real character/personality in real life, therefore Shakespeare was able to present him and make him seem however, he wished to. It is possible and likely that Shakespeare intended to present Hamlets madness in this ambiguous way giving almost equal reason for Hamlet to be genuinely mad as there is for him to be acting mad.