Examples Of Overthink In Hamlet

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most honoured and well known pieces of literature that has been studied by many. There is a depth to Hamlet which has caused so many different ways to view and argue the characters and the overthinking in which the book revolves around. The storyline of Hamlet follows a vein of over thinking that begins with the betrayal of his Uncle Claudius when he secretly murders Hamlet’s father – the King of Denmark- then marries Hamlet’s mother and becomes king himself. As Hamlet mourns the tragic death, he finds himself in front of his father’s ghost whom is speaking to him about his murder and how Claudius- his own brother; killed him. This is when Hamlet begins to see madness around him and reflects it in himself. Hamlet’s “antic disposition” is a feigned act of madness and over thinking, which he uses as a way to cover the beginning of his investigation into validating the ghost’s words. He must keep his cover going while trying to find out the truth of what is going on in the …show more content…
When Polonius met Hamlet in the library, Polonius constantly is being insulted, accused, and investigated by Hamlet however all his hidden by the madness that Hamlet is laying on top. Hamlet asks Polonius if he is a “fishmonger” knowing that he is not however inferring that he is untrustworthy, deceitful, and manipulating his own daughter and trying to pimp her out like the fishmongers do to their prized fish. Polonius sees the wit and intelligence of Hamlet through the overthinking and says aside to himself, “Though this be madness, Yet there is method in’t” (2.2.204). He is understanding that there is something else going on with Hamlet and can see beneath what is being shown. He feels as though the overthinking is driven by something passionate like Hamlet’s love for his daughter