Through Hamlet we can see a strong case of psychosis. Hamlet experiences a chain of events that cause many mental effects. First, Hamlet’s father is killed by his father’s brother, Hamlet’s uncle. The death of one’s father in itself is very traumatizing. To make it worse, a ghost appears to Hamlet to let him know that Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, killed Hamlet Senior. The ghost appears in the form of Hamlet Senior, and sets Hamlet on a journey to “revenge [Claudius’] foul and most unnatural murder,” to kill Claudius as he had killed Hamlet Senior (Shakespeare 9). Hamlet questions the ghost, wondering if it “may be the devil” trying to use his “weakness and [his] melancholy… to damn [him]” (Shakespeare 15). After Hamlet proves to himself that this
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Therefore, one can imply that Hamlet wants to hold onto any remaining piece of his father, even if these pieces are intangible and insane, such as the presence of his father’s ghost. Because the ghost takes the characteristics of Hamlet Senior, it makes it very hard for Hamlet to stay sane and properly analyze the situation. Hamlet’s madness begins when the ghost first starts speaking to him. The ghost “changes [Hamlet]- his incapacity to act- the evidence of mental disease” (Bynum 394). This mental disease that is referenced is evidently psychosis. With Hamlet’s inability to analyze the situation, his actions are obscure and begin his path to insanity, as all he can focus on is seeking revenge to please his deceased father’s wishes. As Hamlet reports what the ghost is saying to Horatio and Marcellus, they begin to question his mental state, as they do not believe that the ghost would actually be capable of speaking. The ghost encourages Hamlet to “put an antic disposition on” so that his actions of killing Claudius will be explainable (Shakespeare …show more content…
Evidently, Hamlet should know and be able to recognize Polonius at first sight. The fact that Hamlet is incapable of this, shows the lack of clarity in his brain. Hamlet then thinks that Polonius is a rat and impulsively kills him. When asked where he put the body Hamlet replies with “at supper” saying that he is “not where he eats, but where he is eaten” (Shakespeare 246). Hamlet does not reveal where Polonius is, instead says that he is being eaten by worms. This shows the extent of Hamlet’s obscure and random actions. Hamlet is not sane enough to realize that feeding Polonius to the worms is not socially acceptable. This is evidence that Hamlet has the mental illness, psychosis. Those around Hamlet can see his insanity, describing him as being “mad as the sea and wind” (Shakespeare 72). All of these events are, obviously, very traumatizing to Hamlet. Hamlet’s trauma has many psychological effects on him. Because these effects develop into the mental illness psychosis, his actions are unpredictable and dangerous to those around him. Hamlet’s case of psychosis, ultimately causes him to lose contact with reality, which is reflected through his actions and
Therefore, one can imply that Hamlet wants to hold onto any remaining piece of his father, even if these pieces are intangible and insane, such as the presence of his father’s ghost. Because the ghost takes the characteristics of Hamlet Senior, it makes it very hard for Hamlet to stay sane and properly analyze the situation. Hamlet’s madness begins when the ghost first starts speaking to him. The ghost “changes [Hamlet]- his incapacity to act- the evidence of mental disease” (Bynum 394). This mental disease that is referenced is evidently psychosis. With Hamlet’s inability to analyze the situation, his actions are obscure and begin his path to insanity, as all he can focus on is seeking revenge to please his deceased father’s wishes. As Hamlet reports what the ghost is saying to Horatio and Marcellus, they begin to question his mental state, as they do not believe that the ghost would actually be capable of speaking. The ghost encourages Hamlet to “put an antic disposition on” so that his actions of killing Claudius will be explainable (Shakespeare …show more content…
Evidently, Hamlet should know and be able to recognize Polonius at first sight. The fact that Hamlet is incapable of this, shows the lack of clarity in his brain. Hamlet then thinks that Polonius is a rat and impulsively kills him. When asked where he put the body Hamlet replies with “at supper” saying that he is “not where he eats, but where he is eaten” (Shakespeare 246). Hamlet does not reveal where Polonius is, instead says that he is being eaten by worms. This shows the extent of Hamlet’s obscure and random actions. Hamlet is not sane enough to realize that feeding Polonius to the worms is not socially acceptable. This is evidence that Hamlet has the mental illness, psychosis. Those around Hamlet can see his insanity, describing him as being “mad as the sea and wind” (Shakespeare 72). All of these events are, obviously, very traumatizing to Hamlet. Hamlet’s trauma has many psychological effects on him. Because these effects develop into the mental illness psychosis, his actions are unpredictable and dangerous to those around him. Hamlet’s case of psychosis, ultimately causes him to lose contact with reality, which is reflected through his actions and