entitlements to do things one would not rationally think of, making for an unpredictable and exciting story. Hamlet is one of the most well known and famous stories from hundreds of years ago; many know the tale of the mad Prince of Denmark. However, in this day and age, with so such medical and legal structure to what actually consists of insanity, we must ask was Hamlet really driven to madness? Hamlet should not be considered guilty
spurred artists into creating countless great works. Shakespeare’s Hamlet in particular, serves as an intriguing take on the thin line between the sane and mad, as well as a spectacular testament to Shakespeare’s ability to harness the subject of insanity as a thrilling plot device. Hamlet’s state of mind is constantly changing during the duration of the play. The first incident of specific mention of the concept of “madness” is when Hamlet says, “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, how strange
Madness or Illness? Mental illness has been portrayed in many works throughout literary history, but none seem to capture it so accurately as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The play delves deep into the stigma around mental illness and exemplifies intricate webs of deception. Hamlet’s desire to feign madness inevitably results in intense mental illness, which, when left unrecognized and untreated, leads to exceptionally dreadful circumstances. This will be explored through the trivialization of mental illness