“Dissociation as a response to an inevitable and necessary trauma produces splitting which can manifest as personal schizoid tendencies or the normative splitting of social life – two dimensions on a continuum” (Mitchell, 55). Hamlet experiences much trauma when he sees his father’s ghost for the first time. There is a split in Hamlet’s mind that is caused by this moment. This is the moment where he begins to dissociate himself from reality because as a rational character, seeing a supernatural being causes all sense of reality, everything that has been familiar, everything that, up to this point, was correct and rational, to go. Dissociation is just one of the many features Hamlet has that point to a mental break and bipolar I disorder. …show more content…
Then, in hearing Gertrude’s cry for help, Polonius echoes Gertrude, calling out for help as well. This reveals the position he has hidden in. In all his fury and confusion, Hamlet draws his sword and stabs Polonius, killing him. The National Institute of Mental Health shows that hypersensitivity is a common condition of paranoia, which can be a psychotic feature of bipolar I disorder. People who are paranoid tend to be, hyperalert, that is, they will notice any slight made against them or not and may take offense where no offense is intended. As a result, they tend to be defensive and antagonistic when they feel a slight has been made against them. When those who have paranoia are at fault, they cannot accept blame, not even mild criticism. Yet they are highly critical of others. Other people may say that these individuals make ‘mountains out of molehills'” (“Bipolar Disorder in Adults”). Interestingly enough, Hamlet believed Polonius his uncle, the king. “Nay I know not, is it the king?” (Act III, Scene iv, line 26). It is physically impossible for Claudius to have moved from the chapel to behind an arras in Gertrude’s bedroom in a shorter time than Hamlet. For a moment, …show more content…
An illusion can occur where there are preexisting stimuli; mass hallucinations based of a stimulus are not unheard of or exceedingly rare. However, auditory hallucinations are far more common in those with schizophrenia with 75% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia reporting this type of hallucination. (“DSM IV”). He also only sees the ghost during the night, which suggest there might be a connection with nightmares and daytime REM patterns. (Koffel et al.). It is also common for the hallucination to be a sort of “commentary” on the person who is affected when it comes to their behavior and action. This is true with the ghost of his father since Old Hamlet keeps telling the Prince of Madness to “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (Act I, Scene v, Line 25). This second hallucination, leading Hamlet to the desire to kill in order to achieve vengeance and