Obviously, you'll need a thesis statement, but you might want to do some reading before you write that. You should research how "madness" is defined and used over time, and then research how people define "eccentric" in their particular cultures. Then focus those definitions on the British understanding of the two terms in the 1600s or so.
Then start considering the characters. Choose two or three who would fit in with your definitions for madness and eccentricity.
https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/
Scroll down to the Characters section and read all you can about the characters you have chosen — and other characters if they turn out to be better examples.
For your thesis statement, you'll need to decide if you lean on the side of "these characters are truly mad" or "these characters are quite eccentric, but not really mad."
Here are some thesis statement examples so you write a good one!
https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html
And here is a terrific website about how to write a good essay:
http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/
Does Shakespeare view madness with a “discerning eye” in Hamlet? Are the actions of his “mad’ characters ‘divinest sense” or are they simply exhibiting “eccentric behavior”?
How would I set up this essay ?
3 answers
is this thesis okay ?
Shakespeare does view madness with a “discerning eye” in the play Hamlet as he was able to portray Hamlets’ eccentric behavior as feigned madness while Ophelia was truly mad.
Here I would be focusing on Hamlet as an example for eccentric behavior and Ophelia as an example for true madness
But I still need help on how I would set the essay up
Shakespeare does view madness with a “discerning eye” in the play Hamlet as he was able to portray Hamlets’ eccentric behavior as feigned madness while Ophelia was truly mad.
Here I would be focusing on Hamlet as an example for eccentric behavior and Ophelia as an example for true madness
But I still need help on how I would set the essay up
Yes, your thesis is fine as long as you are simply exploring and explaining both points. If you're writing a "normal" essay, not an argumentative or persuasion essay, this will do fine.
Here's a possible outline you could follow:
I. Intro incl thesis at the end (written last, not first!)
II. 2-3 paragraphs about Hamlet (not truly mad, simply eccentric)
III. 1-2 paragraphs about Ophelia (truly mad, not eccentric)
IV. Conclusion
https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/catalogue.html#org
Use several of the sections linked here to help you with each part of the essay.
Here's a possible outline you could follow:
I. Intro incl thesis at the end (written last, not first!)
II. 2-3 paragraphs about Hamlet (not truly mad, simply eccentric)
III. 1-2 paragraphs about Ophelia (truly mad, not eccentric)
IV. Conclusion
https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/catalogue.html#org
Use several of the sections linked here to help you with each part of the essay.
1 answer