William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet opens with there being “[s]omething rotten in the state of Denmark” (Madden 81). Given that the rotten state of Denmark becomes center stage, it is the perfect setting for madness to emerge; “Denmark’s a prison” (Madden 96) for those who are inflicted with madness. The main thesis is that in all it’s forms madness reveals truths and the understanding of these truths are interconnected. The text’s reference to truths told by Hamlet, Ophelia and Laertes create this concept. These three types of truth when interconnected result in total understanding.
Ever since the death of King Hamlet young Hamlet has been in what appears to be a state of madness; using madness as his guise Hamlet reveals empirical knowledge of the past which leads to present suffering and future self-destruction. Hamlet is “born to set [his father’s murder] right” (Madden 86). He will “remember [his father]” (Madden 83) by “[avenging] his foul and most unnatural murder” (Madden 82). His quest for revenge has led him “[i]nto the madness wherein he now raves” (Madden 94). Using madness to his advantage Hamlet keeps the court occupied with his mental state so that his true doings may not be rev
Laertes’ moral knowledge is given to him by Claudius and creates future suffering by revealing the truth of the present and the understanding of the past. Laertes develops a madness that is controlled by revenge. When Laertes is talking to Claudius, and it is revealed that Polonius died at Hamlet’s hand, there is so much revenge building up inside Laertes against Hamlet that he want to “cut his throat” (Madden 144). Laertes’ behavior is caused by the sudden death of his father and his sister’s madness. This madness grows even stronger when Claudius promises “no wind of blame” (Madden 142) when Laertes kills Hamlet; perhaps though, this is what Claudius sought all along for himself. Claudius is now being a puppet holder and Laertes his puppet who will become a pawn used to destroy Hamlet before Hamlet can destroy Denmark. Claudius knows that Laertes is seeking the truth of his father’s death and Claudius fuels Laertes’ fire for revenge against Hamlet. Polonius is dead due to Hamlet’s actions however this present burden came from Hamlet’s understanding of the past. Polonius died because “[he] was in life a foolish prating knave” (Madden 127), for Hamlet thought he’d slain Claudius who hid behind the tapestry. Suffering is upon all who attained an understanding of the past that hence came from present truth. <
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