Madness

Question 1

What is the first paragraph for Madness?

Answer 1

Madness is used to allow for free speech

Question 2

What is the critic for Madness is used to allow for free speech?

Answer 2

Madness was ‘dramatically useful’ as it allowed the ‘combination in a single figure of tragic hero and buffoon, to whom could be accorded the license or the allowed fool in speech and action.’ (Mack)

Question 3

What does Opehlia say that emphasises Madness is used to allow for free speech?

Answer 3

“they withered all when my father died”

Question 4

What is the analysis for “they withered all when my father died”

Answer 4

After Polonius’ death she appears mad, and passes invisible flowers to people- rosemary (traditionally carried by mourners at funerals), pansies (name is derived from the French word pensie, meaning “thought” or “remembrance), fennel (a quick-dying flower symbolising sorrow, columbines (a flower symbolising affection, often given to lovers), and daisies (symbols of innocence and purity, and the flower of the Norse fertility goddess Freya). She has no violets left (“they withered all when my father died”). Being symbols of modesty, often lied to the Virgin Mary, this suggests that Ophelia no longer cares about upholding the social norms of chastity that were imposed upon her by Polonius especially

Question 5

What is the context for “they withered all when my father died”?

Answer 5

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603), known as the Virgin Queen, a woman’s purity was highly prized when male suitors picked or romanced a single woman.

Question 6

What does Ophelia say that alludes to Gertrude not mourning her husband?

Answer 6

“Larded with sweet flowers / Which bewept to the grave did not go / With true-love showers”.

Question 7

Analysis of “Larded with sweet flowers / Which bewept to the grave did not go / With true-love showers”.

Answer 7

This alludes to Gertrude never properly mourning her husband but marrying his brother instead. As Ophelia sings about the unvisited grave, the ‘true love showers juxtapose the clear signs of Getrude’s lack of love by her dismissal of mourning.

Question 8

What is the context for “Larded with sweet flowers / Which bewept to the grave did not go / With true-love showers”.

Answer 8

In general, it was not uncommon for widows to remarry within the first year of their husband’s death. Gertrude’s period of being a widow would have been considered quite short, though.

Question 9

What does Polonius ask Hamlet that implies madness is used to allow for free speech?

Answer 9

Polonius asks ‘do you know me, me lord?” to which Hamlet responds with the ironic remark, ‘You are a fishmonger. Fishmonger’

Question 10

Analysis for Polonius asks ‘do you know me, me lord?” to which Hamlet responds with the ironic remark, ‘You are a fishmonger. Fishmonger’ i

Answer 10

Polonius asks ‘do you know me, me lord?” to which Hamlet responds with the ironic remark, ‘You are a fishmonger. Fishmonger’ is polysemic here. Being a low class occupation, it insults Polonius’ status. Being the Elizabethan slang for pimp, Hamlet euphemistically suggests that Polonius has been willing to commodity his own daughter’s happiness in exchange for earning Claudius favour. Through pretending not to recognise Polonius by feigning madness, this allows him to mock and insult the counsellor to the king

Question 11

What is the second paragraph for Madness?

Answer 11

Shakespeare explores the causes and treatment of madness

Question 12

What is the critic for Shakespeare explores the causes and treatment of madness?

Answer 12

“Shakespeare took seriously the view that excessive or unrequited love could lead to mental distraction.” (Tosh)

Question 13

What does Polonius discuss about Hamlet that suggest love can lead to madness?

Answer 13

‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Question 14

Analysis of ‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’?

Answer 14

Although Polonius is wrong, this suggests that excessive or unrequited love could lead to madness as Tosh arques. Hamlet’s love letter to Ophelia convinces Polonius that it is Hamlets love for Ophelia which has driven him mad; he ‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Question 15

Context for ‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Answer 15

Melancholy and madness were seen as linked in Elizabethan England- Robert Burton published the ‘Anatomy of Melancholy’ in 1621 which explored the ailments of melancholy and symbols of melancholic types, including a ‘madman’. In Kyd’s ‘Spanish Tragedy’ (1615) both the hero and his wife are sent mad in horror of their son’s murder.

Question 16

What is the critic about female melancholy?

Answer 16

Elaine Showalter has noted, female melancholy was considered to fall into a whole different category, connected not with genius but with sexuality and sexual frustration.

Question 17

What is the third paragraph for Madness?

Answer 17

Hamlet feigns madness but then actually becomes mad

Question 17

What is the critic for Hamlet feigns madness but then actually becomes mad?

Answer 17

Hamlet ‘wears alternately the twin theatrical masks of tragedy and comedy, sane prince and mad fool, from the moment he decided to put on an ‘antic disposition’ (Marian Cox)

Question 18

What does Hamlet tell Horatio and Marcellus about his plan?

Answer 18

‘put an antic disposition on’

Question 19

Analysis for ‘put an antic disposition on’

Answer 19

he reveals his intention to feign madness. This statement reflects Hamlet’s strategy to deceive those around him and buy time to investigate his father’s mysterious death. By adopting an “antic disposition,” Hamlet hopes to act erratically, distracting others while concealing his true motives. This declaration also underscores the theme of appearance versus reality, as Hamlet intends to mask his true thoughts and intentions behind a facade of insanity. It suggests both his cunning and the emotional turmoil he is beginning to experience.

Question 20

What does Polonius say that implies he believes Hamlets love for Ophelia drove him mad?

Answer 20

‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Question 21

Analysis of ‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Answer 21

Polonius outlines the stages of Hamlet’s madness, claiming it began with sadness and progressed through fasting, insomnia, weakness, and finally to raving madness. His explanation suggests that Hamlet’s erratic behavior is a result of his emotional turmoil, particularly his grief over Ophelia’s rejection and his father’s death. However, Polonius’s interpretation is suspect. As a character who often misreads situations, his analysis may be oversimplified or misguided, reducing Hamlet’s complex state to mere emotional instability. This reflects a broader theme in Hamlet of appearance versus reality—how individuals construct narratives based on surface appearances, without understanding deeper motivations. Polonius, in his attempt to explain Hamlet’s behavior, overlooks the possibility that Hamlet’s madness could be feigned, or that it arises from a more calculated response to his situation rather than mere grief. The passage underscores the play’s ongoing exploration of uncertainty and misinterpretation.

Question 22

What is the context for ‘Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,/ Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,/ Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension/ Into the madness wherein now he raves.’

Answer 22

The theory of the humours: It was believed that the varying composition of four body fluids- blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile- determined a person’s personality and behaviours. The logic behind this was that each of the fluids give off vapours that would ascend to the brain and the body’s temperament was decided upon by this.

Question 23

What quote shows how Hamlet feigns madness in the presence of Polonius?

Answer 23

Polonius: ‘What is the matter, my lord?” -Hamlet responds: ‘between who?’

Question 24

Analysis for Polonius: ‘What is the matter, my lord?” -Hamlet responds: ‘between who?’

Answer 24

Polonius then follows up with a clarification, ‘What is the matter, my lord?” By “matter,” Polonius means the subject matter of what he is reading, but Hamlet deliberately misinterprets, responding with ‘between who?’. He takes ‘matter’ to mean something wrong as we do when we say (“What’s the matter with you?) and answers Polonius’ question with a question (maieutic/maieutically). As Cox argues, this is a comical moment for the audience, however it simultaneously shows how Hamlet feigns madness in the presence of Polonius. And, in the scheme of the plot, this serves a greater purpose- to prove the guilt of the king without appearing suspicious