This document analyzes madness in Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses key characters like Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and Ophelia and events that drove Hamlet to madness, such as the death of his father, betrayal by his mother, and visions of his father's ghost. It also examines Hamlet's actions and dialogue that indicate his madness, as well as the repercussions of Hamlet's madness, including the deaths of Ophelia, Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and ultimately Hamlet himself.

1. To Be or Not to Be
6-1. Analysis Project: Madness in Hamlet
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2. Shakespeare
analysis
Madness in Hamlet
Daria Smith Giraud
Analysis Project
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3. To Be or
Not to Be
6-1. Analysis Project: Madness in Hamlet
• Actions and Dialogue
Indicating Characters
are Mad
• Drivers Origins of
Madness
• Repercussions of
Madness
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4. Death of Father
Father’s Ghost
Gertrude – Mother
Claudius – Hamlet’s Uncle
Ophelia – Love Interest
Hamlet – Himself
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness
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5. Initially Hamlet was not
insane. He acted out in fits
as a ploy against the new
King, his uncle, Claudius.
Ultimately it was Hamlet
who made himself mad.
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness Thoughts of Suicide
O, the this too too
sullied flesh would
melt, Thaw and resolve
itself into dew, Or that
the Everlasting had not
fixed/ His canon ’gainst
self-slaughter! O God,
God, How weary, stale,
flat, and unprofitable/
Seem to me all the
uses of this world.
1.2.133-138
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6. His growing anger and rage
for his Mother, Gertrude
and her fall from grace are
acts of betrayal for marrying
Claudius and allowing him
to take the throne from him.
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness Looses Respect and
Love for his Mother
Frailty thy name is
woman.
1.2. lines
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7. His rage against his
Mother’s actions and
behavior furthered his
anger against all women
and thus rage for Ophelia.
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness No my lord, but as you
command I did repel
his letters and denied
His access to me.
1.2. 120-123
O most wicked speed,
to post/ With such
dexterity to incestuous
sheets! / It is not nor it
cannot come to good/
But it break my heart,
for I must hold my
tongue.
1.2. 161-164
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8. Hearing and seeing
the Ghost of
his dead
Father.
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness Hamlet puts on a show
(at first)
How strange or
odd some’er I bear
myself (As I
perchance
hereafter shall
think meet / To put
an antic disposition
on
1.5.190-192
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9. Hamlets rage for Claudius
and trying to prove he is
guilty of killing his father.
While Polonius spies on
Hamlet reports to
Claudius.
Key Characters who drove
Hamlet to Madness
Drivers Origins of Madness Is Hamlet mad or
faking insanity
Get from him why
he puts on this
confusion.
3.1. 2

10. Actions and Dialogue Indicating Characters are Mad
“ Your Noble son is
mad” (2.2.92)
“Though this be
madness, yet there
is method in’t”
2.2.203-204
Polonius reporting to King
Claudius about Hamlet.
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11. Actions and Dialogue Indicating Characters are Mad
“I am but mad north-
north west / when
the wind is southerly
/ I know a hawk
from a handsaw.
2.2.402-403
Hamlet to Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern the Henchmen
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12. The Spirit that I have seen / May be the devil, and the
devil power / T’assume a pleasing shape / Yea, and
perhaps / Out of my weakness and my melancholy, / As
he is very potent spirits, / Abuses me to damn me.
2.2. 627-632
Hamlet questioning himself and
the Ghost of his Father
Actions and Dialogue Indicating Characters are Mad
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13. Follow her
close
Give her good
watch, I pray
you. 4.5.79
Claudius about Gertrude’s sanity
believing she too is mad
Actions and Dialogue Indicating Characters are Mad
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14. He knew me not at
first; he said I was a
fishmonger / He is far
gone. And truly in my
youth / I suffered
much extremity for
love, very near this.
2.2.205-208
Polonius about Hamlet thinking
he is crazy or melancholy for this
love of Ophelia
Actions and Dialogue Indicating Characters are Mad
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15. Repercussions of Madness
Ophelia Dies by
drowning
Pull’d the poor
wretch from her
melodious lay
To muddy death
4.7.197-208
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16. Repercussions of Madness
Gertrude dies by
poison
King: Gertrude do not drink
Gertrude: I will my lord;
I pray you pardon me.
King: it is the Poisoned cup.
It is too late.
5.2.316-318
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17. I am justly
killed with
mine own
treachery.
5.2.337
Laertes dies by
fencing with Hamlet
Repercussions of Madness
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18. Who does it, then?
His madness. If’t be so,
Hamlet is of the faction
that is wronged;
His madness is poor
Hamlets enemy.
5.2.251-253
Claudius Dies by
Hamlets hand
Repercussions of Madness
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19. The point
envenomed too!
Then, venom, to
thy work.
Heaven make
thee free of it.
5.2.353.365
Hamlet dies by
poisoned rapier sword
Repercussions of Madness
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20. Hamlet. (2020, June 25). From
https://Shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeare
sworks/hamlet
Citations
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