Strange Behavior and Ghosts in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Throughout the play ‘Hamlet‘, we see that the protagonist seems troubled and quite isolated. The Shakespearean play is believed to have been first performed between 1600 and 1601 but not published until 1603. Hamlet is the young prince of Denmark, his mother Gertrude married her brother-in-law shortly after her husband (Hamlet’s father) died. In the Elizabethan era many people believed in supernatural forces and this is displayed within the play when Hamlet’s father returns as a ghost. Many people would argue that Hamlet is possessed and his madness and strange behaviour is partly due to his father’s death and his reoccurrence as a ghost. From the beginning of the play Hamlet seems as if he is emotionally unstable and unable to cope well†¦show more content†¦This shows that Hamlet wants to die by saying he wished his flesh would melt. Hamlet also feels life is not worth living for example ‘How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable’. In other words Hamlet feels that committing suicide is a better alternative to life as life is dreary and pointless. In the Elizabethan era most people were strongly religious including Hamlet and his family, this would have deterred Hamlet from committing suicide as it goes against God and the bible. Additionally an Elizabethan audience would have seen Hamlet’s madness as the devils actions whereas a modern audience would understand Hamlet could have had health problems. Sigmund Freud developed his ideas of psychoanalysis in the 1890s and this is when more people became aware of mental illnesses and its treatment. Throughout the play Hamlet displays hatred and impertinence towards women in two main relationships, with Gertrude (his mother) and Ophelia, his previous love. Hamlet’s misogynistic feelings begin with his mother, Gertrude. Her abrupt and incestuous marriage to Hamlet’s uncle Claudius causes Hamlet much discomfort and disappointment; which then makes him question the fidelity of women in general, a quote that supports this is ‘And yet, within a month,— Let me not think on’t,—Frailty, thy name is woman!’ (1,2,145-146). We can see that Hamlet is angry at his mother for such a hasty marriage here he shows heShow MoreRelatedIs Hamlet s Madness Genuine Or Feigned?1671 Words   |  7 Pagescontroversially discussed themes in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is the theme of Hamlet’s madness. Shakespeare left it up to the audience to decide whether he was truly crazy or not. Although, there are many deliberate acts of fabricated insanity repeated throughout the play. Hamlet’s life events such as the death of his father, loving someone he cannot have, and not mention the marriage of his mother to his uncle, was enough to make someone go off of the deep end. 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