Examples Of Manic Depression In Hamlet

There are several reasons why one would suspect Prince Hamlet to have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder has five classifications, including: bipolar I, bipolar II, rapid cycling, mixed bipolar, and cyclothymia. It causes mood swings, severe depression, extreme feelings, and/or confusion. Hamlet, said to be about twenty years old, has been through so much more than the typical twenty year old has. In the play, Hamlet’s father had been recently murdered by his uncle, whom his mother has also recently married. These are the main reasons why Hamlet has also shown serious signs of major depressive disorder as well, which can often go hand-in-hand

Did you ever notice there are many characters in Hamlet that have mental disorders? Hamlet has a few characters that could possibly be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. At the beginning of the story, Hamlets dad is possibly murdered and Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, takes over the king spot. Hamlet's father's ghost arrives in the castle, it causes suspicions with the whole remarrying right after the death. He becomes very confused on how and why his father passed away. Due to the confusion and questions Hamlet wants answered, he could have developed a mental health disorder in the process of trying to figure things out.

In William Shakespeare's highly known play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, tells the story of a prince dealing with the death of his father and the quick remarriage of his mother to his uncle. This was the start of the rapid downfall of Prince Hamlet's mental state.  This play is a famous portrayal of mental health, and shows the deteriorating progression of the human condition shown through the main character Hamlet.

The state of mind is a fragile thing when facing extraordinary circumstances. This is when suicidal thoughts stem from feelings of guilt and helplessness. Hamlet is faced with the task of exacting revenge unto King Claudius who had killed King Hamlet to claim the throne. Hamlet’s state of mind at first is controlled, yet self deprecating. Soon after, Hamlet’s mental state quickly spirals down into depression and suicidal thoughts. Shakespeare utilizes allusions to Greek mythology, figurative language, and different tones to capture the mental state of Hamlet.

Many who read Shakespeare’s Hamlet immediately dismiss the play’s protagonist as a traumatized young man whose sanity has been dashed away by the increasing intensity of the misfortune bombarding him in his early adult life. However, the play’s young Hamlet may have, in fact, been insane from the very beginning. Perhaps the story was not of his tragic battle with slowly diminishing psychological health, but, rather, his continuing struggle with an untreated illness that had long ago taken root in his life. While it is most commonly thought that Hamlet slowly descended into mental instability throughout the tale, it could be possible that he was struggling with a disorder known as schizophrenia long before the play’s beginning.

In order to better understand the people’s minds in Hamlet we must first understand the disorders that they are going through. “Hamlet” describes the story of a prince named Hamlet hellbent on revenge for his father’s death. The father’s death was caused by the prince’s uncle and newest King, Claudius. While each character has their own personal disorder we are going to focus on Hamlet’s disorder. Hamlet’s disorder might be bipolar 1 disorder, because Hamlet has had manic episodes in which he goes completely mad to the point where he acts like another person. Hamlet shows he has this disorder, because he shows many symptoms of it, some of which are at least one manic episode, episodes of depression, and the cycle of going between mania and depression.

Until something very tragic happens, one will never truly know how they would respond to such an event. Shakespeare 's play Hamlet focuses on the concept of grief and the incredible power it has to change the way a person acts. After the death of his father, Hamlet’s character is often thought to have entered a state of madness; however, many fail to see that Hamlet has feigned this madness to seek revenge on those who have wronged his father and as a way to cope with his overwhelming sadness. The actions Hamlet takes and the persona that he presents adds an additional layer to his character and proves that he is quite intelligent in his methods and able to use the

Throughout the play Hamlet William Shakespeare develops the main character’s behavior as he interacts with other characters that perceive him as emotionally unstable. The protagonist Hamlet is perceived to be a deranged individual, however through an analysis of his entire character it can be concluded that it was more than just an act. Exceptional tragedies, and the endeavour of seeking vengeance to the death of his father have all formed and contributed to Hamlet’s life. Thereby, Shakespeare uses Sarcasm, Insanity, Suicidal tendencies, and Indecision as a way of expressing Hamlet in the play.

In the first soliloquy Hamlet is depressed and suicidal because of his father's death and his mother's remarrying, “Or that the

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Old King Hamlet dies before the play even begins setting the tone for a dark and mournful play. His mother’s swift decisions make for disastrous outcomes. Revenge fuels Hamlet throughout the course of his journey. Hamlet’s indecisiveness sequentially causes more suffering than needed. Hamlet’s broken state stems from his situation with his mother, his father’s death, and his inability to act.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most tragic plays. The story revolves around a prince named Hamlet who strives to keep his word to his dead father by avenging his death. Throughout the play, Hamlet is perceived as a character who is brooding and manic; someone who is so engrossed in killing his uncle for vengeance. Yet, at the same time, he is also a character who is dejected and lonely; a man who loathes himself and his fate. For all that, Hamlet’s life is akin to a paradox. But what if the conundrum of his nature is simply a facade? Oftentimes, people hide behind a mask to protect themselves. In this play, Hamlet opts to act aggressive and insane so he can freely investigate Claudius’ guilt without anyone suspecting. But all the while, he remains subdued and true to himself. As he observes the awful world around him, he also scolds himself for his failures. He recognizes his fatal flaws lie within his true persona and ventures to mask them. However, in the midst of vengeance, Hamlet’s inner nature dominates him and his true character is revealed as sensitive, craven, and ambivalent.

The thoughts and actions of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic heroes, Hamlet and Macbeth, resemble the symptoms of those who suffer from mental illnesses; however, their “illnesses” stem from their personal strife. Hamlet and Macbeth both experienced traumatic events whether of their own doing, or someone else’s, the repercussions from those events are not going to be small and unnoticed.

A common theme in literature is the instability and uncertainty of life and the effects of the awareness of this. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this theme is explored through, and greatly impacts, the development and actions of the eponymous character in the wake of his father’s untimely death. At the play’s start, Hamlet, understandably, is greatly affected by the passing of the former king of Denmark. In fact, he seems to be the only member of his family to be grieving King Hamlet, despite it being only a short time after his passing. As the story progresses, and the truth behind his father’s passing is revealed to him, Hamlet's emotional and mental state is severely impacted. Although they somewhat overlap, his state of mind can be throughout the play can be divided into three categories: sane, sane but feigning insanity, and disturbed.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are three hundred and fifty million people living on this planet with depression. Due to this there has been countless research projects done on the individuals who suffer from this illness. From the research it has been shown that mental illness and extraordinary intelligence are linked in an interesting way. Professors and Doctors have coined the term “Tortured Genius” to describe those who struggle from mental illness because they are intellectually gifted. In the Medieval society that Hamlet lives in, he can be considered a tortured genius. Unlike most men, Hamlet would rather study abroad than fight in a war. His intellectual abilities have led him to become disillusioned with the society around him. Due to this, people around him make him feel like an outsider. Moreover, Hamlet’s intelligence is put to the test when he is visited by the ghost of his father and is instructed to seek vengeance for his father's death. This bothers Hamlet throughout the play because he must deal with the internal strife of being an intellectual while also trying to partake in a primitive activity. The world of Denmark in which Hamlet resides is full of distrust, disloyalty, and corruption. This is starkly contrasted with his internal beliefs and his high regard for education. These conflicting moral values lead to Hamlet’s initial inability to kill Claudius and ultimately results in his depression.

Hamlet, the play’s tragic hero, exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. He is a complex character and displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play. When introduced in Act, Scene 2, we see Hamlet as a sensitive young prince who is mourning over the death of his father, King Hamlet. Also, his mother’s immediate marriage has left him in even more despair. Mixed in with this sense of grief are obvious feelings of anger and frustration. Angry that his mom has remarried to his uncle and frustrated about avenging his father’s death. The combination of these emotions leaves us feeling sympathetic for Hamlet; he becomes a very “human” character. We relate to his feelings and are able to understand him. We see from the very beginning that he is a very complicated and troubled man, and that his tragedy has begun already. Hamlet’s anger and grief, mostly stemming from his mother’s marriage to Claudius, gives him thoughts of suicide, which only subside as a result of it being a moral and religious sin.