Essay on Hamlets Antic Disposition - 1487 Words

Hamlets Antic Disposition In William Shakespeares famous tragedy Hamlet, the main character of the story is one majestically elaborated, aside from being quite complex. There are infinite volumes written about this character because Shakespeare leaves no firm proof of many of his character traits. Yet on Hamlets antic disposition, meaning his obviously absurd temperament or madness, Shakespeare leaves plenty of reason to believe that it is feigned, meaning that it is simply a ploy to help Hamlet carry out his plans for revenge. It is feigned, meaning that it is faked, merely put on as a faà §ade. This is denoted in various aspects of his antic disposition. Hamlets antic disposition is self imposed, meaning that he himself†¦show more content†¦In other words, he tells them that he will merely act antic but not be truly mad. He then tells them, still there in the graveyard, that they should note they know aught of (him) (Shakespeare Act I, Scene v, line 205) so that no one will know of his secret will ingness to act crazy. By telling them this he ensures that he will not be exposed by their testimony, since they have been sworn to secrecy. This also explains why Horatio, very close to Hamlet and always by his side, never questions Hamlets sanity, because he knows it is merely a means to an end, a show that will serve his purpose. Yet there is one that strongly questions Hamlets mental state; King Claudius. Claudius is unsure of Hamlets mental state. Even he, the audience for whom the show is put up for, doubts Hamlets madness because he knows Hamlet is a man of greatness; someone perfectly able of achieving what he sets his mind to. The King doubts him because he knows of his great capacity; clearly shown when he says to Polonius Madness in great ones must not unwatched go (Shakespeare Act III, scene i, line 199) meaning that they should beware of Hamlets madness. The reader is informed by Claudiuss words that Hamlet is perfectly capable of putting on this antic disposition at hi s own will. Proof of this is when he is speaking to Horatio and the audience to his show appears (the King,Show MoreRelatedHamlets Antic Disposition835 Words   |  4 Pages Hamlets Antic Disposition nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; [See Hamlet, II.ii.159-185 in which Polonius proposes to use his daughter Ophelia as a bait for Hamlet, while Polonius and Claudius conceal themselves behind an arras; at which point Hamlet enters unexpectedly and is spoken to by Polonius] nbsp; nbsp; Everything that Hamlet here says is capable of an equivocal interpretation reflecting upon Polonius and Ophelia. Fishmonger, as many commentators have noted, meansRead More The Flaw of Hamlets Antic Disposition Essay743 Words   |  3 PagesHamlets antic disposition of pretending to become crazy so that he can take revenge of his fathers death was a bad plan. The situations in the play that prove that Hamlets antic disposition was a bad plan are the death of his friend Ophelia, his fighting with his mother, trying to fool the King and Polonius, his own downfall and finally his death. All this situations illustrate why Hamlet?s antic disposition was a bad plan. Hamlet?s antic disposition was the main reason why Ophelia committedRead More Madness and Insanity in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay793 Words   |  4 Pageshe does not return her love, she is so brokenhearted that she commits suicide. Near the end of the tragedy, Hamlet plays the part so well, that he convinces himself he is insane. Clearly, Hamlets plan to put on an antic disposition is a tragic error.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlets plan for the antic disposition is to fool all the courtiers, especially Claudius. This way Claudius will not think that Hamlet is capable of killing him and usurping the throne. Hamlet clearly hates Claudius, and wantsRead MoreThe Importance of Maintaining Moral Order as it Relates to Hamlet by William Shakespeares765 Words   |  4 Pagesghost of his beloved father to restore order to Denmark and seek revenge on Claudius, the present king of Denmark and murderer of his father. By identifying the various levels of disorder in Denmark an evaluation of the effectiveness of Hamlets antic disposition as a plan to restore order will be made. Throughout the play there are various factors that contribute to the disorder in Denmark. Chaos is even evident in the relationships and friendships Hamlet is involved with during the course ofRead MoreThe Profound Impact Of Female Characters Of Shakespeare s Hamlet930 Words   |  4 Pagesand the plot. Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, heavily influences Hamlet’s mindset through her questionable actions during the play. Ophelia, Hamlet’s former lover, has a distinct emotional attachment to Hamlet. She gets caught in the crossfire of Hamlet’s â€Å"antic disposition† and makes Hamlet face the consequences of his actions. Both females are crucial to plot development, and have considerable influence on Hamlet’s thoughts and actions after close analysis. Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, exhibits lustfulRead MoreThe Antic Disposition in Hamlet1645 Words   |  7 Pageson his uncle Claudius for his alleged murder of Hamlet’s father, the young prince feigns insanity in order to get the man’s guard down and keep him off balance until finding the right time to strike. However, the question remains – by the end of the play, just how much is Hamlet pretending to be insane? Is it really an act, or has Hamlet really taken on an â€Å"antic disposition† as Hamlet vows to put on (I.v.172)? While it can be confirmed that Hamlet’s insanity is more or less a ruse, his own dedicationRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis918 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet portrayed in Act I, scene III from the Hamlet in Act I scene V, where he encounters the Ghost. When he first introduces Hamlet, Hamlet is portrayed as a young man grieving from the loss of his father and of the mother he though he knew. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he describes the world he lives in as an â€Å"unveiled garden, that grows to seed† that possessed by â€Å"things rank and gross in nature† (I.v.135-136). From the very beginning , even before Hamlet had any knowledge of the Ghost, his griefRead MoreHamlet And Antic Morality In William Shakespeares Hamlet1110 Words   |  5 Pagesput on a antic disposition, which means he would act crazy, but I actually think that he does not go completely insane he is just good at acting. First of all, there are many occasions where Hamlet says he is not crazy, but just acting as if he was. After Hamlet has talked to the ghost, he says: As I perchance hereafter shall think meet, To put an antic disposition on (1.5. 179-180). This quote is very important because Hamlet reveals that from now on, he will have an antic disposition on. WhenRead MoreInsanity In Hamlet Essay1038 Words   |  5 Pagesor, as the merely ominous becomes more prominent, even as a presentimental hallucination,† (Stoll). In Hamlet, the Ghost appears before other characters beyond Hamlet, extending the validity of the Ghost’s existence rather than a fabrication of Hamlet’s absurdity. In the first scene of the play, the poltergeist of the late King of Denmark first appears to the watchmen of the Elsinore Castle. One of the watchmen proclaims that the ghost is â€Å"In the same figure like the king that’s dead† (1.1.53).Read MoreDear Friend Hamlet Essay947 Words   |  4 Pagesmisery, triumph, and madness. I’m unable to tell if it was all an antic disposition? Or if were you really as insane as ‘the sea and the wind,’ both contending to be mightier in the storm? (4.1.7-8). I’ve come to the realisation that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears. A series of lies and manipulation have unravelled before my very eyes, ending in blood shed. Blood that is on my hands as much as it is on Hamlet’s. As his closest confidant, our bond was knitted together tightly