Madness Flashcards
“I did repel his letters, and denied his access to me.”
“That hath made him mad.”
A2S1, Polonius assumes Hamlet’s feigned madness is due to Ophelia’s denial (“Mad for thy love?”) and obviously couldn’t have anything to do with grief/Gertrude’s marriage
“I have found the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.”
A2S2 Polonius waffles around telling Gertrude and Claudius his theory around Hamlet’s madness (irony in the next “Brevity is the soul of wit”)
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.”
A2S2 Polonius recognises in an aside that Hamlet’s words may be intentional, his madness may be faked
“It shall be so. Madness in great ones should not unwatched go.”
A3S1 Claudius makes this contradictory statement, as he doesn’t believe madness is the issue with Hamlet. Hamlet’s ‘madness’ is clearly intimidating Claudius into overthinking and feeling the need to spy on him.
“Mad as the sea and wind.”
A4S1 Gertrude’s assessment of Hamlet at the end of Act 3 to Claudius, the only time it’s just the two of them on stage, and is also ironic as she promised Hamlet she wouldn’t “breathe” a word of their confrontation. “Sea and wind” may also foreshadow Hamlet’s pirate adventure?
“Lord we know what we are but not what we may be.”
A4S5 Ophelia’s words in madness are perhaps intentionally open-ended, as she says this to Claudius, telling him that no matter what he does he cannot directly control the future, which creates a sense of foreboding.
“Rosemary, that’s for remembrance.”
A4S5 Part of Ophelia’s listing of flowers to Laertes, all which are linked to constant themes in her character and are part of her suicide. The “violets all withered when my father died” may suggest how she feels Denmark has corrupted since Polonius’ death. Flowers are also associated with weddings/funerals, highlighting what was taken from Ophelia during the play.
“She drowned herself wittingly.”
A5S1 the gravediggers discuss Ophelia’s suicide in a light tone, which provides an element of comic relief to an otherwise devastating event. This uncertainty surrounding her death is also important, as the court ruled it suicide, and therefore her “Christian burial” would be lessened.
“The houses he makes lasts till doomsday.”
A5S1 The gravediggers comment on the hierarchy of men, and the tradition upheld with gravedigging. Hamlet is appalled by how happy the gravediggers can be with death, especially as they’re singing (comparative to Ophelia’s final moments?) Also, this is just a banger line.
