preview

Effects Of Mental Illness In Hamlet

Good Essays

The play Hamlet, by Shakespeare, is a very important piece to understand the grim actuality and undeserved consequence of one’s untreated mental state. In the case of these mental states, actions are still just as affected by the karmic consequence as all other characters. The justification of actions using signs of mental illness does not excuse the eventual and inevitable karmic consequence, but helps readers actually understand the character.
Different states of mind may cause one to believe their actions are just and normal, while being outlandish to the majority of onlookers. Prince Hamlet is the epitome of the damage a traumatic experience could trigger in oneself. To start, Hamlet has signs of two different disorders plaguing his mind. …show more content…

Ophelia has suffered more than any other character in the play, as she’s been used, abused, broken, and humiliated. Ophelia starts with no signs of mental illness, but the breaking point at which everything collapses for her is when her father is killed by Hamlet. She appears to have highly unusual behavior, delusions, hallucinations, and rebellious and suicidal tendencies. While these symptoms do not all fit into a certain illness, it's obvious she is affected by at least one, if not multiple strains on her mind. Her mind caused Ophelia to commit suicide, and it's unclear if it was intentional to end the suffering or committed by the lack of reality in herself. Mental health in Hamlet is shown as a killer of mind, and in some cases, of body, which would be accurate to an extent in representing the actuality of mental illness in an …show more content…

Hamlet takes the concept of Karma, a effect from cause, to an extreme point. In normal views of Karma, bad actions are punished with bad actions in return of increased punishment. Good actions are taken into account as well and rewarded with an increased amount than given. It’s the epitome of an investment of actions. Hamlet takes bad actions committed by its characters and gives the worst of karma in return. More than half of the cast of characters has died, and it is no coincidence that all of these characters have done another wrong in any amount. Starting with Claudius, it is obvious that he has committed sin after sin, lies, manipulation, and murder. In return he was dealt the worst and most painful death possible. Claudius exceeded all other characters in terms of negative karma and exceeded the average of its punishments. Hamlet is more complicated, as with his negative karma from murders and deceit, he also has positive karma from doing the greater good, which equalized the consequence to a simple death by poison. Gertrude’s death may have seemed unwarranted based on her reputation throughout the play, however Gertrude’s sin is her assumed adulterous nature with Claudius. She slept with the devil and faced with the consequences. Polonius died for his selfish mindset concerning his daughter,

Get Access