This document summarizes characteristics of madness in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses how Hamlet exhibits erratic behavior after learning his father was murdered by his uncle Claudius. This drives Hamlet mad with a desire for revenge. The document also examines how Hamlet's madness is shown through his interactions with other characters like Ophelia and Gertrude, as well as how he maintains control over his faculties at times.

1.  Presented by : Sanjay A. Dharaiya
 Subject: Paper 1 ( The Renaissance Literature )
 Topic : Characteristic of Hamlet : Madness
 Part: M.A. Sem-1
 Email Id: dharaiy9@amail.com
 Submitted: Smt. S.B. Gardi Department of English MKB
University.

2.  He was an English poet, playwright,
and actor, widely regarded as the
greatest writer in the English
language and the world's greatest
dramatist.
 He is often called England's national
poet and the "Bard of Avon.’’
 He began a successful career in
London as an actor, writer, and part-
owner of a playing company called
the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later
known as the King's Men.
1564-1616

3.  In William Shakespeare's Hamlet,
one of the most evident and
important themes is the theme of
madness.
 The theme is apparent throughout
the play, mainly through the
actions and thoughts of Hamlet,
and Ophelia.
 Madness is defined as the quality
or condition of mental illness or
derangement.

4.  When he becomes alone he behaves
differently, and start to speak all the
things which he feels, his behavior with
the ghost is different.
 His father’s ghost tells him that he was
murdered by Claudius, which drives
Hamlet to want to seek revenge.
 This causes him to display erratic behavior, indicating that he
has become mad with his desire to avenge his father’s death.

5. (1) Tragic Hero (3) Sudden Jerk
(6) Reasons(4) Strong control
(7) Cruel behavior
(5) Balance
(2) Behavioral Pattern

6.  According to Aristotle’s definition of a
tragic hero, Hamlet does not survive
to see the full outcome of his actions
and more importantly, this is because
he possesses a tragic flaw.
 Hamlet has many noble and brave
characteristics, this is one of the
reasons he is a tragic hero.
 Hamlet's promise to avenge his
father's death makes him noble
because loyalty is part of chivalry, one
of the main aspects of being noble.
Also, Hamlet is very brave.

7.  Hamlet has developed such kind of
Behavioural a pattern.
 Hamlet's behavior affects that of
the other characters in the play in
that his action drastically alters,
not only their perception
of Hamlet and his intentions, but
also their actions and words in
dealing with Hamlet.
 If we may there in the situation of
Hamlet we can't differently behave
with different Person.

8.  Hamlet comes to know about the
Crime of his Uncle.
 The first of these was the sudden
death of his father; caused as it
was given out by a serpent's sting.
The circumstances were
suspicious and pointed to his
uncle, Claudius, but there was no
certain evidence.
 So, here he get shocked ,and from
this all the thing get started.

9.  He balance his emotions,
passions, anger and patience.
 He act as a mad man before
Polonius, Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern.
 He did not make even a single
mistake in dealing with them as a
mad man.

10.  When Hamlet speaks about himself to Haratio just
before the staging of the play, he gives the judicious
instruction to the actors about how they ought to act.
 He gives the warm welcome to his old schoolmates.
 And this shows his balanced mind.

11.  Ophelia thought him to be
mad as she stopped meeting
him but the real cause is the
shock given to him by his nears
and dears and he was suffering
alone.

12.  Hamlet behaves cruelly with
Ophelia in one of the
Nunnery Scene.
 With Gertrude- he behaves
brutally with her.
"Frailty thy name is
Women.“ By Hamlet.