The Tragedies Of Shakespeare :: essays research papers

The Tragedies Of Shakespeare"Your noble son is harebrained           Mad call I it, for to define true cult,          What ist still to be nothing else unless mad?"(Wells and Taylor, 665)     In Act two, scene two of William Shakespeares act as Hamlet, Poloniususes these words to assure Hamlets parents of their sons insanity. He thencontinues on, telling Gertrude and Claudius that the cause of this madness islovesickness over his possess daughter Ophelia (665). From the privilegedperspective of the audience, we make do that Polonius is mistaken and that Hamletis distant from insane, but rather, "playing mad" for a purpose of his own. Madnessin Shakespearean plays, and in tragedies in particular, is rarely what it seemson the surface. Instead, both madness and the characters experiencing it are gradeed with meaning like an onion, layer after layer can be peele d off,eventually allowing a glimpse at the core concealed within.     Shakespeares treatment of the character Hamlet is typically multi-faceted and complexHamlet appears insane, ostensibly over Ophelia, however,his madness is feigneda cover for internal conflicts, rooted not in thwartedaffection, but rather in desire to avenge his fathers murder. Hamlet even goesso far as to say his apparent madness is an act when he says "I am but madnorth-north-west when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw"(667).     Shakespeare often used madness, either feigned or actual, as a teachingtool or vehicle to advance his plot. Sometimes this madness was feigned, asevidenced by Hamlet and Edgar (the legitimate son of Gloucester in The Tragedyof King Lear), but other times it was genuine insanity. Ophelia and dameMacBeth are obvious examples of Shakespearean characters that have slipped intomadnessOphelia due to the loss of all those dear to her, and Lady MacBeth fromguilt over the part she played in King Duncans murder. In Hamlet, Opheliasmadness ultimately leads to her demise, and this, in turn, plays a part inHamlets willingness to engulf in what will be his final battle. In this sense,it helps advance the play towards its climax.     While Lady MacBeths madness also leads to death, its focus is more onteaching than propelling the story to conclusion. While Lady MacBeth isinitially seen as a cold, conscienceless, calculating woman, intent onadvancing her husband politically (by any means necessary), her characterchanges as the play progresses. Early on in the play, she is full of ambitionindeed, upon reading MacBeths letter, she complains about his nature andinactivity          Yet do I fear thy nature,          It is too full o th milk of human kindness