This paper discusses the theme of
madness in the major characters of the three
tragedies 'Hamlet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'King Lear.' Hamlet and Ophelia are compared and
contrasted, then Ophelia is compared to and contrasted against Lady Macbeth. The
witches in 'Macbeth' are related to the theme of madness, then madness is explored in Lear and Edgar. Emphasis is given to
speech patterns and the allusion to madness. The paper ends with an analysis of the necessity and reason for the madness of these characters and how they contribute to the
tragedy as a whole.