Mary Lewis

Miss Skirtich
November 16, 2016
English 10: World Literature
Hamlets Mental Meltdown
Hamlet, the main character, is faced with challenges and situations we usually do not
encounter in daily life. Some examples are, his family spying on him, contemplation of suicide,
and the responsibility of avenging his fathers death. Throughout the play Hamlet the main
character struggles with his mental sanity. This all has taken a toll on his mentality and drove
him to insanity. Hamlets mental instability is due to depression, anger, and dishonesty.
One of the sources of Hamlets madness is his anger. Hamlet deals with injustice in his
family everyday such as knowing his uncle killed his father. One occurrence that shows Hamlets
anger was when Ophelia tried to return his love letters. Ophelia tried to give Hamlet back his
love letters saying they lost their perfume or love. This led Hamlet to say to Ophelia You
should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it.
I loved you not (III.I.127-129.) This shows Hamlets anger because he is so angered and
unstable that he is willing to denounce his love for Ophelia. Other examples would be him
killing Polonius. Hamlet says How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead Hamlet kills Polonius by
stabbing him. Polonius responds with O, I am slain!(III. IV. 29-30.) Out of anger and
frustration Hamlets madness drove him to kill Polonius because he was spying on him. Hamlet
also told Ophelia We arrant knaves all; believe none of us. Go they ways to a nunnery
(III.I.139-140.) This shows Hamlets anger because the woman that he loved, that he promised to
marry he is now telling her to go to a brothel. His anger is causing him to hurt people he once
loved such as Ophelia. This is why anger is a contributor to Hamlets insanity.

Secondly, depression also adds to Hamlets unstableness. At the very beginning of the
play Claudius and Gertrude are getting married alongside the late King Hamlets funeral. Even
though everyone was dressed for the wedding Hamlet was dressed in all black and was very
down and upset instead of happy about the wedding. From the very start Hamlet was not an
upbeat person, his first appearance in the play is at his mothers wedding. Contributing to this
when everyone leaves Hamlet has his first soliloquy O that this too.I must hold my tongue
(I.II.133-164.) This dialogue is about suicide and how sad Hamlet is about Claudius and
Gertrudes incestuous marriage Another instance would be Hamlets To be or not to be.my
sins remembered soliloquy (III.II 64-98.) This whole dialogue was Hamlet contemplating
suicide, whether it is nobler to commit suicide or to suffer. His depression is also evident when
he hurt Ophelia or when he killed Polonius. He is drained of emotion so much that he can
denounce his love or kill someone without even a second thought. Hamlet also internalizes
everything. This is how depression is driving Hamlets insanity.
Another reason is that Hamlet is also very exposed to dishonesty. This play is full of
spying, and betrayal so it is very obvious that Hamlet does not have a sense of security with
anyone. One example of dishonesty towards Hamlet is when Ophelia betrayed Hamlet to help
Claudius spy on him. Hamlet asked where her father was and she said at home, but Hamlet knew
Polonius was spying on them. Wheres your father? (III.I.141.) Hamlet says this after he
notices that Polonius is spying in them. Ophelia responds with At home my lord (III.I.142.)
Ophelia lied to Hamlet, this is where her betrayal is most evident. This could have drove him
insane because his last hope let him down. I think that was why he was so enraged, because
Ophelia, the person he trusted, betrayed him. He admitted to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that
he had lost all hope in humanity, that no one pleases him. They also betrayed Hamlet by spying

on him which is another reason Hamlet could be unstable. His childhood friends spy on him
because of what Claudius said. The saddest part is when Hamlet tells them I am but mad northnorth-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw (II.II.403-404.) I think
this is sad because it shows Hamlet trusted Rosencrantz and Guildenstern even after they lied to
him.
Anger, depression, and dishonesty caused Hamlet to become crazy and led to his own
demise along with many others. All of these reasons contribute to Hamlets story. If it wasnt for
these factors Hamlet would have never gone crazy, and the play may have ended differently.