Within his tragic Hamlet, Shakespeare explores three definitions of madness. The definition presented by Ophelia is the only one I interpret as conventional madness, whereas I think the two presented by Hamlet are either feigned or the result of heightened emotions. Each condition contains similarities and differences that help to highlight the dramatic purpose that this theme provides to the play. The first of these conditions is named the 'antic disposition' by Hamlet in act one, scene five, and could be argued to be Hamlet's genuine state. However, I think that Shakespeare employs a number of methods to disprove this...
is also seen in moments of intense anger with such declarations as, 'to hell, allegiance!' 'I dare damnation.'

However, the three main definitions of madness presented by Shakespeare in Hamlet explore one of the principal themes of the play. As well as adding the most exciting drama, I think that madness is used in different forms to contrast and complement each other definition. Shakespeare's exploration of emotions, as presented by Hamlet, and the ambiguous way in which emotions cross the boundary into madness is ahead of his time and adds intriguing and passionate levels of meaning into the play.