Gifted English II: Edusoft Benchmark Testing, part I--Reading Comprehension. (Tomorrow is Writing.) 10 points for participating. Please bring a pencil.
APees: Hopefully, we will take care of your Bright Futures today; regardless, we need to finish reviewing for tomorrow's amazing test. Oh, and see the following:
HAMLET'S MADNESS!
WAS HE MAD?
The YES, HE WAS MAD side:
- Hamlet appears to act mad when he hears of his father’s murder. At the time he speaks "wild and whirling words." [Act I, Scene v, lines 127-134]
- Hamlet’s behaviour throughout the play, especially towards Ophelia is very erratic.
- He professes to be the only one who truly loves her, during the fight with Laertes in Ophelia's grave, but he tells her that he never loved her, when she returns his letters and gifts.
- His mood changes abruptly throughout the play.
- He jumps aboard a pirate ship without anyone to back him up.
- He jumps into Ophelia's grave, and fights with Laertes in her grave.
- He has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed, even though they were not part of his revenge-against-his-father's-murder plan.
- He alone sees his father's ghost in his mother's chamber. Every other time the ghost appeared someone else has seen it. During this scene he finally shows his madness, because his mother does not see the ghost. [Act III, scene iv, ~ line 105]
- He has violent outbursts towards his mother.
- Hamlet tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in a "fit of madness". [Act V, Scene ii, lines 236-250]
- He kills Polonius and will not tell anyone where the body is.
The NO, HE WAS SANE side:
- Hamlet tells Horatio that he is going to "feign madness," and that if Horatio notices any strange behavior from Hamlet, it is because he is putting on an act. [Act i, Scene v, lines 166-180]
- Hamlet's madness only manifests itself when he is in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves irrationally. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The Players and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally.
- Claudius confesses that Hamlet's "actions although strange, do not appear to stem from madness." [Act III, Scene i, lines 165-167]
- Polonius admits that Hamlet's actions and words have a "method" to them; there appears to be a reason behind them, they are logical in nature. [Act II, Scene ii, lines 206-207]
- Hamlet's madness in no way reflects Ophelia's true madness, his actions contrast them.
- Hamlet tells his mother that he is not mad, "but mad in craft." [Act III, Scene iv, lines 188-199]
- Hamlet believes in his sanity at all times. He never doubts his control over psyche.
