Mental Illness in Shakespeares Works - 1371 Words

Throughout Shakespeare’s many works, mental illnesses have played an undeniable part in many of them, especially his tragedies. From Lady Macbeth hallucination of a bloody spot leading to her suicide, to Hamlet’s faked illness and Ophelia’s very real illness, afflictions of the mind are featured prominently in the Bard of Avalon’s many works. Still, in the Elizabethan era, understanding of mental illness was rudimentary at best, as were the methods of treating it. During the Middle Ages and Elizabethan Era, numerous theories about mental disorders and how to treat them abounded. Three plays of Shakespeare’s that feature mental illness most prominently are King Lear, Hamlet, and Macbeth, while also managing to showcase the conception of†¦show more content†¦However, Hamlet proceeds to murder and hide the body of Polonius, which leads to Ophelia’s insanity and the scene where everyone dies, as well as the completely senseless murders o f minor characters Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. Speaking of Ophelia’s madness, it becomes apparent to the audience that she is well and truly insane, when she enters, singing, â€Å"They bore him barefaced on the bier;/Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny;/And in his grave raind many a tear:--/Fare you well, my dove!† which, even by the archaic standards of Shakespeare, is complete and utter nonsense. Ophelia, apparently, due to rejection by Hamlet, her boyfriend, and the death of her father, had become hysterical, possibly having PTSD. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental disease commonly found among soldiers, but can be caused by the murders of close family members, and does result in delusions. Whatever the case may have been, Ophelia later commits suicide by drowning herself in the river, possibly due to delusions, or out of depression over her father’s death. Whatever the case may be, both Hamlet and Ophelia are prime examples of insanity and ma dness within Shakespeare’s writings. Finally, Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest works, is near infamous for its main characters, the Lord and Lady Macbeth, both of whom happen to be insane. The first instinence of MacbethShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Macbeth And Macbeth1510 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare portrayed mental illnesses in Macbeth fairly accurately. The characters in the tragedy of Macbeth show many characteristics and warning signs of mental disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia and depression. Since there is scarce evidence of medical testing and research with the mind during the 1500s and 1600s, Shakespeare most likely didn’t understand that the way he portrayed the character’s actions are characteristics for certain diagnosed mental disorders. TheRead MorePsychoanalysis Of Hamlet1171 Words   |  5 PagesPsychoanalysis of Shakespeare’s Hamlet In the world of literature, drama is one of the more subconsciously relatable and personable subgenres. Fiction and poetry may convey common events or stories, but drama uniquely presents them before the audience’s eyes, where every detail is analyzed and absorbed. Because drama is physically portrayed through actors, the audience members process body language and physical aspects of the stage in conjunction with the spoken script, to piece together individualRead More Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1128 Words   |  5 PagesIago in Othello  Ã‚      In William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello we see a morally depraved character, perhaps a very mentally sick individual, named Iago. His personality and development during the play is the subject of this essay. In Shakespeare’s Four Giants Blanche Coles comments on the mental illness that appears to afflict the despicable Iago: When such old time critics as H. N. Hudson, who wrote nearly a hundred years ago, saw that Iago was not acting from revenge, one is moreRead MoreEssay about King Lear and Madness in the Renaissance1547 Words   |  7 PagesKing Lear and Madness in the Renaissance      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It has been demonstrated that Shakespeares portrayal of madness parallels Brights A Treatise of Melancholie (Wilson 309-20), yet, the medical model alone is insufficient to describe the madness of Shakespeare’ s King Lear. Shakespeare was not limited to a single book in his understanding of madness; he had at his disposal the sum total of his societys understanding of the issue. Since Lears madness is derived from a mixture of sources,Read MoreMacbeth Essay819 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Essay In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth undergoes many psychological tribulations. There is no doubt that he is insane, but the specifics of his conditions help explain the peculiarities of the play. Macbeth’s character was perhaps the culmination of all the psychological disorders known at Shakespeare’s day. He experienced disorders such as split personality, schizophrenia, and post traumatic stress. These disorders could be caused by stress on the battlefield and a poor spousalRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Macbeth, The Tale Of One Man s Ambition And Insanity1498 Words   |  6 Pagesan offender, while others are hard wired into the brain. It isn t always possible to tell, or prevent a future criminal from developing, but by understanding the multiple causes, it becomes easier to understand a criminal’s thought process. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the tale of one man’s ambition and insanity is painted through a web of tragedy. His ambit ion prompts him to murder, lie, and conspire against others, while the influence of his wife plays a role in his ever so near future. Her pressureRead MoreMacbeth Mental Essay1536 Words   |  7 Pagesobservation information from many resources such as doctor, psychiatrist, prison guards, and the dictionary. And overall I would find them very resourceful. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth there is clearly some mental issues that the main character Macbeth battles between himself, early on in the beginning of the tragedy a side of gruesome is explained when the captain states â€Å"which nev’r shook hands, nor blade farewell to him, till he unseamedRead MoreDreams: Nightmares the Myths Facts About It!1393 Words   |  6 Pagesunfinished situations until we work through the guilt or anxiety. Freud called this a repetition compulsion. This pattern is illustrated vividly in Shakespeares Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder the kind, at first she seems untroubled by her part in the murder. But her guilt shows itself in a nightmare, which finally made her lose her mind. There is also physical illness that might produce nightmare. Although it is unclear whether illness itself or the stress that accompaniesRead MoreEssay on Macbeth was Sane1049 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause he understood the significance of his thoughts and felt guilt over them.   This guilt would not be present in a crazy man because a crazy man kills without remorse.    Another important matter to discuss in determining Macbeths mental state is Macbeths hallucinations.   In my professional opinion, these hallucinations were not the result of insanity.   I feel that they were manifestations of the stress Macbeth was feeling.   In no way do they suggest that Macbeth was insane.  Read More Shakespeares Othello - Iago Essay1670 Words   |  7 PagesOthello’s Iago  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   We find in William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello an example of personified evil. He is the general’s ancient, Iago, and he wreaks havoc and destruction on all those under his influence.    Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello† comment on how the character of Iago is the wholly expected type of villain for an Elizabethan audience:      Iago at once captures the attention of the spectator. He is the personification