Feigned and Permanence
By: Millicent
In Hamlet both Hamlet and Ophelia are able to speak freely behind the mask of
their madness. The reaction that Hamlet and Ophelia have regarding their fathers’ deaths
is what drives them mad. Hamlet and Ophelia are also both children of controlling
parents, and they are forced to do things they do not want to do. Their madness leads
them both to their deaths. Although Hamlet and Ophelia are very different from one
another, their madness serves a common purpose to mask and disguise their emotional
agony but it ultimately leads to their tragic deaths.
The death of Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s fathers prompts their madness. The day
Hamlet realizes that his father’s murderer is his stepfather and uncle overwhelms him.
Therefore, he suggests to feign madness, “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To
put an antic disposition on.” (I. V. 172-173) He pretends to be mad so that he can safely
investigate his father’s murder without alarming others with his snooping. Ophelia’s
madness begins when she realizes that her father is dead, “He is dead and gone, lady, / He
is dead and gone, / At his head a grass-green turf, / At his heels a stone. / Oh, ho!” (IV. V.
26-30) She has a bad habit of constantly granting her father’s wishes without question,
and heavily relies upon her father’s guidance. As a result, she loses her mind when he is
gone. Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s loss of their fathers initiates their madness whether feigned
or real.
Both Hamlet and Ophelia have parents who use controlling behaviours, which
compel them to commit to acts they have no desire to do. Hamlet’s father, Elderly
Hamlet, who is murdered by his brother Claudius, reappears in apparition, “But
howsoever thou pursuest this act, / Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive / Against
thy mother aught.” (I. V. 84-86) The ghost of elderly Hamlet reveals every detail about
the punishment he suffers, which rouses Hamlet forward. Although Hamlet has the
passion to avenge his father’s death, he is not ready, “Upon whose property and most
dear life / A damned defeat was made. / Am I a coward?” (II. II. 525-530) Hamlet seems
to be in a forced state due to the Ghost’s orders, which he relies upon his feigned
madness for assistance. Additionally, Ophelia’s father, Polonius prevents Ophelia from
seeing her lover Hamlet. Polonius manipulates her to try and solidify his and her position
in the court, “’Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star. / This must not be.’ / And then I
prescripts gave her, / That she should lock herself from his resort, / Admit no messengers,
receive no tokens.” (II. II. 132-135) Ophelia obeys her father’s wishes without question
even though she still wants to see Hamlet, which ultimately leads to her true insanity.
Hamlet and Ophelia’s controlling parents compels them to do things they do not want to
do.
The madness Hamlet and Ophelia experience eventually leads to their deaths.
Hamlet pretending to be mad directs Ophelia to true insanity, which initiates a chain
reaction leading to his death, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” (III. IV. 24) That
is, Hamlet feigning madness rouses in his mind to execute Polonius without hesitation ,
which prompts Ophelia’s true insanity. Not only that, it escalates Laertes’ revenge for his
father’s murder as well as his sister’s insanity. Additionally, leading up to the death of
Hamlet, Claudius is fully aware that Laertes is angry for the death of his father and
Ophelia’s suicide that he makes Laertes an easy pawn to manipulate, “If it be so,
Laertes— As how should it be so? How otherwise? — / Will you be ruled by me?” (IV.
VII. 56-58) Claudius takes advantage of Laertes to get rid of Hamlet so that he can keep
his position sturdy, which sets up Hamlet’s death. Additionally, Ophelia’s true insanity
leads to her suicide, in that after her father’s death, she approaches the king and queen
with songs about death, love and sex, “How should I your true love know / From another
one? / White his shroud as the mountain snow—.” (IV. V. 19-32) She is mourning for her
father’s death, and reveals feelings of pain and betrayal for the unrequited love Hamlet
gave Ophelia. Due to her loss of a father, and a man with whom has lost interest in her,
she has no one to confide to, so he commits suicide. Hamlet feigning madness and
Ophelia’s true insanity ultimately lead to their tragic deaths.
Hamlet reveals the truth of the mask of madness allowing Hamlet and Ophelia to
speak freely. Hamlet and Ophelia’s reaction regarding the executions of their fathers
prompts their madness. Both Hamlet and Ophelia have controlling parents who
compelled them to take jobs that they have no interest in doing. Hamlet feigning madness
and Ophelia’s true insanity leads them to their tragic deaths. Despite the differences
between Hamlet and Ophelia, their madness whether feigned or real serves a central
purpose to hide and conceal their emotional agony, instead gives death an opportunity to
ruin their lives.
Over all your paper is coming along pretty well. I pointed out a few places where you
could cut some stuff out, but I don’t think it will be enough. I have other ideas to get you
to the length that you need, but fix these issues first and we will work on getting it
shorter. I apologize for taking so long to get to this, but I got swamped at work and just
couldn’t get to it until now. I’m going to post this now. It would also be helpful if you
could list the due date of this assignment so that we know how long you have left to work
on it. - JC