H/W 26th January 2017
Critical Anthology Summaries
Tragedy and Madness – Maynard Mack (section A)
Summary: - how often Shakespeare’s tragic heroes go mad
- Madness is a type of punishment
- How Shakespeare uses madness to present certain truths or ideas which may be
controversial
- Madness allows freedom of speech but is sometimes dismissed as fiction
For Evidence
“madness has a further dimension” – “There’s fennel for you, and columbaries.
Ophelia gives flowers to the others in the There’s rue for you… There’s a daisy, I would
height of her madness which convey a give you some violets” (4.5. 179-83)
message/ opinion
Shakespeare uses Hamlet as his vessel to His mother marrying Claudius, “O most
present his ideas. “Hamlet bout the wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to
corruption of human nature” incestuous sheets” (1.2. 156-7)
Claudius not regretting killing his brother
because he still loves what he gains from it
but feels guilty about that, “I am still
possessed of those effects for which I did the
murder…May one be pardoned and retain
th’ offence?’ (3.3. 53-6)
Against Evidence
Hamlet himself has insight in the truth “Excellent well, you are a fish monger” (2.2.
considering ‘Polonius with a fishmonger’ but 174)
what insight does this give Hamlet. It “though this be madness, yet there is
appears he’s just pushing his ‘guise of a method in’t” (2.2. 206)
madman’ referring a pompous man as a fish
monger is a joke and insult
The Shakespearean Tragic Hero – A.C. Bradley (section A)
Summary: - Shakespearean tragedy centres on one person, the ‘hero’
- Tragedies lead up to and include the hero’s death
- Suffering/ calamity are unexpected and contrasted with previous happiness or glory – are
chief sources of tragic emotions (e.g. pity) from audience
- The fall of the hero leads to the fall of everything else
For Evidence
“the story, next, leads up to, and includes, “O I die Horatio, the potent poison quite
the death of the hero” o’er-crows my spirit” (5.2. 354-5)
Critical Anthology Summaries
Tragedy and Madness – Maynard Mack (section A)
Summary: - how often Shakespeare’s tragic heroes go mad
- Madness is a type of punishment
- How Shakespeare uses madness to present certain truths or ideas which may be
controversial
- Madness allows freedom of speech but is sometimes dismissed as fiction
For Evidence
“madness has a further dimension” – “There’s fennel for you, and columbaries.
Ophelia gives flowers to the others in the There’s rue for you… There’s a daisy, I would
height of her madness which convey a give you some violets” (4.5. 179-83)
message/ opinion
Shakespeare uses Hamlet as his vessel to His mother marrying Claudius, “O most
present his ideas. “Hamlet bout the wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to
corruption of human nature” incestuous sheets” (1.2. 156-7)
Claudius not regretting killing his brother
because he still loves what he gains from it
but feels guilty about that, “I am still
possessed of those effects for which I did the
murder…May one be pardoned and retain
th’ offence?’ (3.3. 53-6)
Against Evidence
Hamlet himself has insight in the truth “Excellent well, you are a fish monger” (2.2.
considering ‘Polonius with a fishmonger’ but 174)
what insight does this give Hamlet. It “though this be madness, yet there is
appears he’s just pushing his ‘guise of a method in’t” (2.2. 206)
madman’ referring a pompous man as a fish
monger is a joke and insult
The Shakespearean Tragic Hero – A.C. Bradley (section A)
Summary: - Shakespearean tragedy centres on one person, the ‘hero’
- Tragedies lead up to and include the hero’s death
- Suffering/ calamity are unexpected and contrasted with previous happiness or glory – are
chief sources of tragic emotions (e.g. pity) from audience
- The fall of the hero leads to the fall of everything else
For Evidence
“the story, next, leads up to, and includes, “O I die Horatio, the potent poison quite
the death of the hero” o’er-crows my spirit” (5.2. 354-5)
