Why does shakespeare use madness

Edgar, having narrowly escaped the hunting parties sent out after him, realizes that as long as he is himself, he will never be safe. To that end, he decides to affect the costume and demeanor of a bedlam beggar thus escaping detection and almost certain death , saying:. He noted that bedlam beggars throughout the country have provided him precedent, being generally left alone by townspeople, though sometime pelted and driven out of town by those same people.

All in all, it was a small price to pay for the preservation of his life. The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? She further sees visions during the day, never at peace, starting at the least little thing. Eventually, she succumbs to the internal torments and commits suicide by leaping from a building. Whether real or feigned, irrespective of the manifestation, all of these instances of madness serve a purpose greater than merely being madness for the sake of madness. Each of these characters teaches us something, or, through their own actions, causes us to look inside ourselves for some insight.

Victorian audiences expected as much, and the lessons and insights are, for the most part, as valid today as they were when Shakespeare first put pen to paper. Of the various devices Shakespeare used to convey these messages, madness is one of the more effective.

Somehow, the great speeches made by other characters to rally troops e. Often, Shakespeare uses the psychological aspect of this to advantage not only on the audience, but on other characters within the play itself. Shakespeare was masterful when it came to tying strands of the plot together using insanity. Thus, several strands of the story are interwoven, all leading to the climactic death scene that ends the tragedy. In short, madness in Shakespeare, particularly in Shakespearean tragedy, is never what it appeared to be on the surface.

It is always a vital aspect of the plot, interwoven throughout, having layer upon layer of meaning. There is a method and a meaning for every incidence of insanity, and indeed, often more than one.

This is a profound gift, and one to be treasured. These Literature essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

Search for an essay or resource:. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win. Work Cited Wells and Taylor. William Shakespeare The Complete Works. New York: Oxford University Press, We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Settings Accept All. Manage consent. Answered by Emily G. Need help with English Literature? One to one online tuition can be a great way to brush up on your English Literature knowledge. In light of this quotation, explore the representation of women in Jane Eyre.

Sources: Fink. Paul J. Stigma and Mental Illness. American Psychiatric Pub. I obviously am not a student of his work, but I will definitely look out for characters of his in future trips to the theater. Thank you! Shakespeare appears to have had a very thorough understanding of the intricate human mind.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. April 5, S. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. Hamlet, Act III Scene 2 These lines, from what is often referred to as the greatest play ever written , depict a seemingly acute episode of mania experienced by Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark.

Mental Illness in Elizabethan Era Before we plunge into the fascinating depictions of different psychiatric illnesses within his characters, let us have a look at the status of mental illness in 16th century England and the theories that prevailed in Elizabethan England regarding mental illness.

Kendall, Mental illness at that time was thought to be of the following types: Melancholia, or depression. Delirium, which was considered to be abnormal behaviour often accompanied by fever. Amentia, the loss of mental ability. Epilepsy, which was considered to be a mental disorder and treated as such. Hanson, London, A City of Disease Some historians are of the opinion that Shakespeare may have acquired knowledge of common physical and psychological disorders by merely observing the sickness and disease around him, especially during the years he spent living in London.

Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3 This quiet submission, however, takes its toll on Ophelia and results in an onset of depression, causing her to lose whatever little judgement and decision making power she possessed, to begin with. It is certainly impressive how Shakespeare's understanding of mental disorders even extended to a cognizance of the behavioural repertoire of individuals suffering from different disorders.

Shakespeare and Medicine. Abnormal Psychology. Boston, MA. Houghton Mifflin Company.