A psychodrama is a play that deals with the state of mind of its central character. Hamlet’s state of mind goes through many changes throughout the playwright “Hamlet”, by William Shakespeare. Each event plays a profound affect on Hamlet’s behavior and process of thinking. Three main occurrences make up the mind set of Hamlet. When the play begins Hamlet is introduced as mourning his father’s death and mother’s remarriage to his father’s brother. “Oh God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer! , married with my uncle, my father’s brother…
.” (I. ii. 154-57).
Hamlet avenges Claudius because he was next in line for the thrown however it was taken from his grasp by the marriage of Gertrude, hamlet’s mother, and Claudius. Therefore, his father’s recent death and the incestuous marriage between Claudius and Gertrude caused confusion and self unrest. Hamlet’s meeting with his father’s ghost has an abundant effect on his mind.
When Hamlet first sees his father’s ghost he is uncertain whether it is “a spirit of health or goblin damned” (I. iv. 44).
As his father tells him about how Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, poured poison in his ear and killed him; Hamlet becomes more unstable.
Hamlet’s state of mind shifts to “sweep… revenge” of his father’s death (I. v. 37).
Now anger replaces Hamlet’s sadness with a desire for revenge and self-indulgence. In his dealings with other characters, Hamlet presents the audience with his intelligence and ability to act.
By using his acting skills he pretends to be mad about Ophelia instead of about his father’s death. “Sir, shall grow old He uses extensive vocabulary and knowledge of literature to present intelligence to others.