One theme that is very present in Act IV is madness. Hamlet's constant sense of feigned madness is still present in this Act, particularly when Hamlet is describing what he has done with Polonius' body. His twisted words and confusing directions make it appear if he is both insane and dangerous, prompting Claudius to quickly begin the process of sending him to England. Another, more genuine sense of madness is portrayed through Ophelia, after learning of the death of her father. This also pulls in the theme of appearance versus reality because some of Hamlet's madness is an act put on for his own purposes, while Ophelia's genuine madness is so deep and forceful that it leads her to an untimely death.
-Sam Slug
Well said Sam Slug; I agree with the part about appearance versus reality and I also agree that while Hamlet pretended to be crazy, his facade turned into a reality for him. The gravity and the emotional burden of avenging his father's murder has been an instrumental key in pushing Hamlet towards madness.
ReplyDeleteLee Slug
But if we think about it, they're all walking a thin line between sanity and madness. The only thing that it takes is a trigger to set them off. Ophelia's was her father dying, Hamlet's is killing Polonius and Claudius is about to lose his mind from fear and guilt. Mostly fear. And, while all the Royals go mad, the country is going crazy too, in a sense, because they have no direction, protection, or knowledge of anything that's happening, including outside threats.
ReplyDeletexoxo, Cantore Slug