Hamlet is repulsed by this thought, "a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer"[I.ii.151-152]. ... Shakespeare probes madness through several different methods; however through his use of Gertrude and Ophelia he encompasses the spectrum and course of Hamlet's mad pretence, Gertrude as the impetus, and Ophelia's suicide, as it's the end. ...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School