Madness and Insanity in Shakespeares Hamlet - The Cause of Ophelias Insanity :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet The Cause of Ophelias Insanity Shakespeare, through his intricate uses of symbolization and dramaticirony, arranges a brilliantly detailed account of how Hamlets psychic excitement served as the driving force of Ophelias swelling insanity andimminent suicide. He floods the early acts with an impending sense of astonishment within Ophelia, for her feelings toward hamlet greatly contrastthose of her brother and father. Ophelia begins to willingly take heed ofher familys advice as the prince finds himself distant from a lucidpattern of thought. However, because her feelings for him are genuine, thisserves only to exalt her mental strain. In the height of Hamletsincoherent rage, he provides Ophelia with the ultimate medium for her ensue madness. The murder of Polonius is the greatest among many factorsthat were contributed by Hamlet to the somber destiny of Ophelia. A prelude, composed of warnings from Polonius and Laertes, istactfully set up by Shakespeare during Ophelias si gn appearances in theplay, aiding in the preparation for her subsequent mental deterioration. Pol. What is between you? flip me up the truth. Oph. He hath, ny lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. Pol. Affection, puh You tell like a green girl Unsifted in such uncertain circumstance. Do you believe his tenders as you call them? Oph. I do non know, my lord, what I should think. (I, iii, ln.107-113)Ophelia openly professes her confusion. Polonius response is presented ina manner which is clear intended to sincerely disdain Hamlet before hisdaughter, making self-evident his opinion of their involvement. His intent forher actions, however, will merely magnify her confusion. Ophelia concedesthat she is not cognizant of a solution with which to halt or even improve thissituation. For this reason, no preventive measures are taken, onlyallowing the situation to worsen. Hamlets mind grows more and more clouded as his goal becomes clear,and in the midst of his pervad ing preoccupation, he pushes Ophelia to the bill of mental breakdown. This notion appears in the second act, afterOphelia first sees a deranged Hamlet. Oph. Lord Hamlet with a look so poor in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To converse of horrors -he comes before me Pol. Mad for thy love? Oph. My lord I do not know But I truly do fear it. (II, I, ln. 87-97)Her confusion has evolved into a state of dread, and this dread will beginto penetrate her disposition as it grows more and more intense.