The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-24

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true however weighty, are worthless
without proof, and / now propose to pre-
sent my evidence under four classes:
''First-Critics
Second-Medical experts.
'Third-Hamlet's contemporaries; both
enemies and friends
''Fourth-The hero himself.
''Akenside, one Of the Oldest authorities
obtainable. afhrms Shakespeare made
Hamlet real mailman
DIR. Johnson. while not really affirm
ing insanity, says: I cannot find sufficient
reason for Hamlet's pretended Madness :
| thus making the affirmation inferentiaL
Tuck, a prominent German reviewer
holds that Hamlet was undoubtedly in
sane
"Coleridge. one Of the adverse critics,
says: 'Hamlet's madness is but half
! false
Goethe says: Shakespeare paints a
soul on which a deed has been imposed
which is too much for it..
"Dowden affirms: Under the pitiless
burden imposed upon him Hamlet trem-
bles, totters, falls.
Hudson, one Of the most prominent
modern educators: IN plain terms. then.
Hamlet is mad that IS, the arrangement
is partial and occasional
Coming then 10 the second class, Hud-
son says: TO the medico psychological
faculty belongs the merit Of having solved
the problem over which literary critics
have puzzled so long in vain, and cites
DR.. Isaac Ray OF Providence, as well
known to students IN mental pathology,
who makes this statement: In the opin-
ion Of literary critics Hamlets profound
speculations on the purposes of life, MS
solemn questioning of its meaning, the
pertinency. of his replies, the exquisite
wiz and wisdom Of his discourse, the sa-
gacity and forecast displayed in his plans,
the true nobility OF his nature, all forbid
! the idea of madness; but he. adds, these
persons embrace the popular error re-
garding madness as but another name Tor
confusion and violence, overlooking the
daily fact that it is compatible with some
of the fipest and richest manifestations
of intellect, and he adds: 1T is enough
to state it as a scientific fact that Ham
let's mental condition furnishes in apund-
ance the pathological and psychological
symptoms of insanity
''Dr. A o. Kellogg Of Utica gives the
following as the result of much scientlhc
observation and experience:
There are cases of melanchohc mad
ness Of a delicate shade in which the
reasoning faculties, the intellect proper,
so far from being overcome are rendered
more acute and vigorous, while the Will,
the moral feelings and affections seem
alone TO suffer from the stroke of disease
Such a case Shakespeare has given US In
the character of Hamlet, with fidelity
to nature which continues more and more
TO excite our wonder and establishment
as our knowledge of this intricate subject
advances
II might add other evidence Of this
class were it necessary, but will now lis
ten to testimony Of third division, repre-
scented by the actors in the grand drama,
of which Hamlet stands the central figure
This evidence as see it is incontroverti-
Bile, being given principally by those I'M
friendly or at least averse TO him. His
uncle. the king, says: 1t viii! be laid to
US. whose providence should have kept
restrained this mad young man.
His mother testifes with tears as she
recounts the murder of Polonius: Mad
as the sea and wind when both contend
which is the mightier,' and in speaking
to Ophena, she says: And for your part.
Ophela, do wish that your good beau
ties be the happy cause of Hamlet's wild
ness; so shall l. hope your virtues will
bring him to his wonted way again
"Polonius says: How say you by that?
Still harping on my daughter; yet he knew
me not at first. He said / was a fish
monger He is far gone-far gone.
"Gui!denstern asserts: With a crafty
madness. he keeps aloof when We would
bring him to some confession of his true
state
-'Kossncrantz says: He does confess
himself distracted
Dear little Ophela in the truthfulness
Of her womanly heart. adds this: Now,
see, that noble and most sovereign rea-
sen. Ike sweet bells tangled out Of tune
and halsh.'
Even the clown. in giving the data OF
King Hamlet's vCtcry over Fontibras,
says 'Cs met you tell that. Every fool
can tell that. It was the very day young
Hamlet was Lorn-he that is mad-and
sent into England
Il wish to introduce only one more wit
ness-the Incompatible Hamlet himself.
He says: L have that within which pass
eth show To GuIldenstern he AYERS: I
cannot give you wholesome answer; my
wits diseased
I'm speaking 70 Laertes Of Polonius and
Ophelia, he uses this language: What
have done that might your nature,
honor and exception roughly awake. 1
here proclaim was madness. Vast Ham
let wronged I,aertes? Never Hamlet. II
Hamlet from himself be ta'en away and
when he's not himself does wrong Daer-
ties, then Hamlet does il not. Who does
It then? His madness. lit be so, Ham |
let is OF the faction that Is wronged. His !
madness is poor Hamlet's enemy
What more conclusive evidence TO !
prove that the oyerburlened, overwrought 4
mnd ol this once brilliant young man /
was truly out of tune. and ii seems TO !
me hat any intellgent physician would I
agree with the above definition and de- I
eide fo- insanity. As authority I cite Drs /
BucknilI ana Tuke in their standard work I
on Psychological Medicine. What more /
can I CO: ! have proven the previous I
perfect mental condition Of the patient: /
have recounted the sudden shock which I
produced the disease and finally, from I
many unimpeachable witnesses. have /
proven his mental condition that OF the 4
insane Having done this. the final ques- /
uon row propounds itself: Did he ever (.
recover his lost powers?
His feeling appeal 10 Laertes indicates, (
at least, 4 knowledge Of his malady and I
ii may be, anologiCaily, that some SUI /
prene moment Of pleasure OF pain. may
sEap in twain the chain which binds his 7
fettered intellect. II may have come
when realizing, intuitively. Horatid's dan /
ser he snatches the poisoned cup from
his lips and prophecies tho election lights I
on Fontinbras. And though much is dark. I