Mental Illness And Women In Hamlet

Demetri Bichara Ap Literature and Composition Mrs. Heppard 23 January 2023 Ap Exam 2023: Hamlet’s inability The theme of royalty in literature explores what many readers may wonder about, the mortality and ability of kings to properly govern their nations. However, the prominence of mental illness in people of royal status is something that is often overlooked. While heavy, this angle is important for examining ability and discussing mortality. People with mental illness deserve help and should not be neglected and subjected to the responsibility of major positions of power, even if they want it.

In Branagh’s film, the director uses the techniques to create madness directly. For example, from the moment Ophelia asks that “Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?” (4.5.21) until she leaves her room after saying “good night, good night” (4.5.73), she is in the straitjacket clothes which are for mentally ill people. Also the audience can observe that she is trapped in the compact room with protection surrounding when Gertrude says that she “[…][would] not speak with her.” The film is using the symbols directly related to madness to persuade the audience that she is in the state of mental illness.

In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Ophelia descends into madness after losing her father. In her insanity, she loses reason and the ability to formulate cohesive ideas, her speech becoming “nothing” (4.5.9). Ophelia’s madness transforms her into a new person, “divided from herself and her fair judgment” (4.5.92). The breakdown of Ophelia’s character ends with her suicide, a complete succumbency to her insanity. Moreover, in Shakespeare’s play and in Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel Frankenstein, Hamlet and Frankenstein both fall into madness with complexity in the insanity of both characters.

Ophelia’s madness is caused by the actions of others in the story. “Madness becomes Ophelia’s last resort, her unconscious revolt. Indeed what else is left for her to do? Offering her an escape, madness provides her with the ability to finally speak her anger and desire” (Dane,412).Her father tells her to stay away from Hamlet, who she has fallen in love with. Hamlet has warned her earlier that whatever he tells her in the future will not be true but, when he tells her he does not intent to be with her it starts the beginning of her madness.

After Hamlet murdered Polonius, Ophelia’s father, she sunk deeply into madness. “Hamlet (2000) gives Ophelia room to protest against the patriarchal order in her madness by her piercing scream and refusal to be silenced by the men around her, providing a rebellious Ophelia who is self-conscious of her suppressed position” (Li 6). This quote from the book called, “The “Rebellious” Ophelia: An Analysis of Film Adaptations of Hamlet,” explains that Ophelia had so much anger built up that she finally breaks loose and refuses to stay silent any longer, which is rebellious because women were told not to speak their mind, especially in public, during this time. This shows us that the woman in this book was very different to how women would have acted in society at that

Bipolar disorder is often identifiable by aggression, false belief of superiority, mood swings, and risky behavior. Throughout the latter course of the play, Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his father’s death, and he even kills Polonius while planning his future attempt to assassinate King Claudius. Hamlet’s feelings for Ophelia also drastically change for the worse in comparison to the tender love he felt for her in the beginning acts. If one were to give three key ingredients for Bipolar disorder that unfortunately match Hamlet’s behavior quite well, then that individual would mention the fact that Hamlet manifests unusual talkativeness, flights of ideas, and deemingly far too much involvement in illegal or unethical activities. A prime example of Hamlet’s unusual speech is when he calls Polonius a “fishmonger.”

Ophelia was also represented as crazy later in the movie. Yes, Ophelia did go crazy after the death of her father, but from reading the play, I did not picture her going to that extreme. I noticed the craziness especially when she was singing in the movie. There were also many

Although I disagree with the character traits presented by the author, it has provided me with some insight regarding Ophelia. That insight being the possibility that Ophelia’s personality may be a facade. Ophelia

but wherefore I know not—lost all my mirth.” His depression over his father’s illness is very real but often rolled up in his faked madness. On the other hand, Ophelia is genuinely “mad,” sick with grief over her father’s death and unable to fit in with the court society. Her scene with her brother, who just confirmed his father’s death, is heartbreaking. She doesn’t recognize him at all.

In the Tragedy of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, some of the most significant events are mental or psychological events that make the audience feel and have an emotional connection with the characters. These significant events can be awakenings, discoveries, and changes in consciousness that set off a mental or psychological effect to the readers. The author, Shakespeare, gives these internal events to characters such as Ophelia, Gertrude, and Hamlet throughout the play to give the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and the sister of Laertes who both tell her to stop seeing Hamlet. To Polonius, Ophelia is an eternal virgin who is going to be a dutiful

Ophelia goes mad throughout the story. She is overwhelmed by the loss of her father and the rejection of Hamlet. Her character is seen spiraling down a dark path that also ends in death. Ophelia is depicted as not having control over her actions; speaking and acting erratically. While Hamlet is speaking erratically and behaving oddly, he still maintains control over his actions and movement throughout the story.

Thus, Ophelia’s “madness” is determined by the extent to which she subverts female gender expectations. The more she exhibits traits traditionally associated with men, the more “mad” she becomes. In this context, Ophelia serves as both a caricature and a warning against female enlightenment as told through a patriarchal lense. She is ultimately ostracized from society, implying that women who seek freedom will receive the same fate as

Insanity is an idea that has been examined for a long time in numerous mediums such as films, music, plays, and even works of literature. William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is no exception to that rule. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most complex characters, and many scholars have been debating for centuries whether or not Hamlet is truly insane, or whether there is a particular reason for his odd behavior. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet merely pretends to be mad but in reality is sane.

What would one expect the personality of a man whose father was murdered by his uncle, who becomes his step-father? The personality in question points to Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark—who William Shakespeare depicts in his play “Hamlet.” A character analysis of Hamlet reveals that through his internal dialogue, his interpretation of his father 's murder, and his actions, his traits—bitterness, depression, and anger—emerge. Scholars have studied Hamlet for decades, and most have concluded that Hamlet 's personality indicated insanity. However, after observing Hamlet 's actions, his actions throughout the play do not resemble those of an insane person.

It is no secret that misogyny occurred during the Elizabethan era. This behavior was apparent throughout Hamlet. Hamlet had sexist attitudes towards both his mother and his lover. The young prince tells Ophelia to “Get thee to a nunnery” shaming her for her sexuality (III.i.123). This was moments after he was questioning if he should commit suicide; therefore, showing how Hamlet used Ophelia as an outlet for his frustration.