madness in Hamlet and Twelfth Night
In William Shakespeare’s plays Hamlet and Twelfth Night, the theme of madness is conveyed in different approaches. Madness, in the context of both plays, changes the outcome of events through the use of language, tone, and atmosphere. Hamlet is a serious, melodramatic work, which makes the theme of madness its most important and dominant element, while Twelfth Night handles the subject with a humorous and light-hearted tone. Shakespeare conveys the folly of his characters by showing the different effects that the state of madness has on them. ... By doing this, he demonstrates how specific situations and circumstances can unravel the concept of madness. When the idea of madness is first introduced in Hamlet, it is immediately evident that it will be a fundamental component in determining the fate of the characters as well as the outcome of the entire play. ... This, in turn, sets the mood for the topic of madness that is seen throughout the rest of the play. The play opens with a few watchmen seeing the ghost of Hamlet’s dead father, who signifies that the theme will have an adverse effect on all the characters in one way or the other. ... For example, the initial encounter the audience has with Hamlet would indicate that he might very well be crazy and delusional, almost mad. This description is reconfirmed by Hamlet himself when he says in the beginning of the play, “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason/ Would have mourned longer- married with my/ uncle, / My father’s brother, but no more like my father/ Than I to Hercules. ... ” (I, ii, 150-158) This statement clearly summarizes the state of mind that Hamlet is in as soon as the play opens. ... The words “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer” show Hamlet’s true feelings concerning his mother marrying her dead husband’s brother, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. They indicate that despite being in a state of mourning for his father’s death, he is still able to recognize the wrongful actions of his uncle and mother, an issue that might be the initial cause for his descent into supposed madness as the play progresses.