Madness Flashcards
put on an ……
“to put an antic disposition on”
Admitting to Gertrude his pretences – his calculating feigned madness
“mad in craft”
Admitting to R+G in confusing terms that he is actually rational when he wants
“I am but mad north-north west, when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw”
Ophelia’s surprise to Hamlet’s madness
“O What a noble mind is here o’erthrown!” (Ophelia)
Hamlet’s success in knowing Polonius will immediately tell Claudius – ironic
“I will be brief; your noble son is mad.” (Polonius)
Nervousness at Hamlet as a threat to his power, feigned concern
“Madness in great ones shall not unwatched go” (Claudius)
Confusion in how he wants to present himself – self-preservation by pretending he was not hurt by her betrayal
“I did love you once”…”i loved you not” (To Ophelia)
(To R and G – pretence and antic disposition/truth and melancholic depression juxtaposed here) jollity
‘I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth’
In many ways the wisest comment in the play
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t” (Polonius)
Complete exasperation; interesting in that in the closet scene (and the reappearance of the ghost) can be seen to be a true example of Hamlet’s madness and it is his mother who witnesses it.
Gertrude - “Alas, he is mad”
Gertrude talking about Hamlet’s brain
“this is the very coinage of your brain” (Gertrude)
Polonius thinks that cause of Hamlets madness
Polonius - “The ecstasy of love”
Claudius’ description of Hamlet’s mind. Somehow disregarding him – treating him as a child
Claudius - “his easily excitable mind”
Hamlet’s north west madness
‘I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.’ feigned madness.
