The Art of Madness in Literature: Exploration of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Abstract

In this article, I will examine the significance of madness in world literature. There are  both positive and negative impact of madness in literature, but Shakespeare does not share his own view in the text or in the interview outside of text. Hamlet, in his instance, constructed an other universe for himself, refusing to acknowledge the actual truth that confronted him. Hamlet maintains his connection to the tangible and pragmatic world throughout, with the exception of a brief and fleeting episode of hallucination. His strategic presentation of the play to validate his scepticism, clever evasion from the acts of murder and utilising Ophelia as a tool for vengeance are executed in a highly distorted manner. Apparently, one may consider Hamlet as a foolish man , but in reality, he is an intelligent person having his personal philosophy of life. In Western culture, lunacy has consistently emerged from many sources, creating a pattern that gradually transforms from one manifestation to another, potentially concealing a mysterious reality. The meaning here is consistently fragmented, and Shakespeare shows his creativity and his mastery in using psychological analysis in his depictions of madness.