The Joker, is he insane or genius?
Mischievous Plans
Media Component
Mischievous Plans
- On the exterior, the joker is a completely insane man.
- has no remorse for anyone, commits insane acts on innocent people
- yet the way his mind works and the ideas he comes up with prove he really could be a genius
- "nobody panics when things go according to plan" so he knows he needs to do something different, because he wants to make people go insane and panic.
- manipulates Harvey Dent into a mad men for his own pleasure
- every move he makes has an underlying reason
- Hamlet sets up a play which includes "The Murder of Gonzango" scene, which is a direct reanactment of the killing of his father by Claudius
- The purpose of this is to test Claudius' reaction to the scene - guilt
- Shakespeare meant to portray Hamlet's insanity as feigned
- As Hamlet conversed rationally at times, he was not insane at all
- Hamlet's 'friends' Rosencrantz and Guildenstern took their loyalty towards the king too far when bearing out a letter for Hamlet's execution
- Hamlet sees this as an opportunity to work his genius ways
- opens the letter, rewrites the instructions so that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern get executed and he reseals it as if nothing had happened.
- Hamlet had just geniusly saved his own life while eliminating those who continually were trying to bring him down
Insanity
Keep in mind whether the Joker is Insane or Genius
"Observe mine uncle; if his occulted guilt do not itself unkennel in one speach, it is a damn'd ghost tha we have seen, and my imaginations are as foul as vulcan's stithy. Give him headful note; For i mine eyes will rivet to his face, And after we will both our judgements join in censure of his seeming."
Kellogg, A.O. Commentary from "Insanity–Illustrated by Histories of Distinguished Men, and by the Writings of Poets and Novelists." Quoted as "Insanity–Illustrated by Histories of Distinguished Men, and by the Writings of Poets and Novelists" in Marson, Janyce, ed. The Comedy of Errors, Bloom's Shakespeare Through the Ages. New York: Chelse House Publishing, 2010. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 27 Nov. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=101976&SID=5&iPin=STACE31&SingleRecord=True>.
Manipulation
- Hamlet uses manipulation and madness to toy with everyone which shows his inner genius
- Hamlet is being prude, sarcastic and fake to Claudius, Ophelia, Polonius and everyone else at the play
Moral Conscience
- He enjoys how he is acting towards them all and how they take it
"That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft"
- Sexual towards Ophelia because he knows her father is around and she wont approve of his behavior either
"Lady shall I lie in your lap"
Moral Conscience
"What should a man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died with in these two hours."
- Hamlet is stating that his madness is fake and everything he is doing is calculated and thought through.
To be insane is to be in a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction. Engage in acts of madness.
Thesis
- Although Hamlet's antic disposition he does know right from wrong.
- He procrastinates his fathers revenge on Claudius, morally he knows he is committing a sin yet rationally he overlooks this.
- Will not act on his revenge until he verifies Claudius' guilt through "The Murder of Gonzango" scene in his play.
- In Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy after contemplating different sides on life and death he decides to act against his problems and does not take his own life.
Through analyzing Hamlet's antic disposition it is evident that Hamlet feigns off the idea of madness and beneficially uses this to prove that he is in fact a Genius through the works of his mischievous plans, manipulation and moral conscience.
Genius
Insane
Secondary Sources
Mischievous Plans
Manipulation
- Hamlet has the chance to kill Claudius and get his revenge over with while Claudius is praying unaware of Hamlet's presence.
- Hamlet realizes killing him in prayer will only free him from his sins
- Decides to wait for a better time when he is not praying so when he is killed he will be sent to hell
- Hamlets feigned madness allows him to verbally attack Claudius through constantly confusing him and getting under his skin
- Makes him Genius because he can pull off the act of madness
Mischievous Plans
"O, this is hire and salary, not revenge...when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incesteus pleasure of his bed, at gaming, swearing or about some act that has no relish of salvation in't: Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven and that his sould may be as damn'd and black as hell where it goes."
- Thought through the killing and revenge, not as simple as just killing. Hamlet used his complex mind to realize during prayer is not a beneficial time to get revenge.
- Hamlet acts strange toward Polonius, he knows that Polonius is in touch with Claudius and his mother Gertrude.
- By acting strange he knows it will leave them all to focus on his madness and distract them from his intentions on Claudius
Agenda
- Overall, Through manipulation Hamlet feigns of madness to distract from his plan
Conclusion
In Relation to Hamlet?
Quinn, Edward. "madness and literature ." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 28 Nov. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=101976&SID=5&iPin=DLLT0586&SingleRecord=True>.
Manipulation
- Insanity and genius characteristics are both present in Hamlet, whether they are feigned or not they both are not considered to be the 'norm' for a person,
- Thus, Hamlet is perceived as abnormal to everyone.
Although, being insane and genius relate to one another Hamlet shows signs of both characteristics yet, it is evident that Hamlet feigns off madness to distract those of Denmark and through all his mischievous and manipulative actions while still using his moral conscience he proves himself to be a genius being.
- Hamlet knows he is constantly being spied on, watched and listened to so he makes sure he always acts in a way that will make him seem mad, distracting them from his mission for revenge.
- Activity
- Thesis
- Definitions
- How Hamlet is Genius
- Media Component
- Secondary Sources
- Recap Quiz
- Conclusion
- Survey
QUIZ
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SURVEY
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- When Ophelia gives Hamlet his stuff back, he knows their relationship is completely over and he also knows he is being watched. He strategically acts completely mad, which throws off Ophelia Claudius and Polonius which is what Hamlet wanted.
"Go thy ways to a nunnery, where's your father?"
works cited
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/antichamlet.html
http://campuses.fortbendisd.com/campuses/documents/teacher/2008%5Cteacher_20080924_1408_2.pdf
Genius
A Genius is someone whom is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect.
Hamlet: Insane or Genius