Critics trashed Michael Almereyda's Hamlet, in part because of the acting of Ethan Hawke, whom many critics considered too weak for the role (). However, these critics fail to recognize that "[Hamlet's] nature changes from scene to scene" (Crosman 148) and therefore requires development as the storyline progresses. Likewise, the character of Ophélie experiences quite drastic changes following the death of her father. But, while Hawke received criticism for her descent into madness, Stiles' Ophelia received praise. This essay will examine the depiction of mental illness in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Michael Almereyda's 2000 film adaptation of the play, in order to justify Ethan Hawke's role as Hamlet. Many depictions of madness and melancholy in Shakespeare's time took inspiration from institutions like Bedlam. Hospital which housed mentally ill people (Cross 19). At this time, the madness fascinated many people in England and as a result became a ruckus turned cultural event as public onlookers viewed the patients as part of a "human zoo". During Shakespeare's time and into the late 1700s, large numbers of visitors paid entrance fees to see the inmates. Inmates also became public through the writings of authors like Shakespeare. These writings often heightened public intrigue toward madness through the addition of stereotypes depicting the mental distress of others. In his essay, Simon Cross gives the example of Edgar in Shakespeare's King Lear. In the play, Edgar disguises himself and “takes on all the characteristics” of a madman by feigning physical ailments and babbling incessantly. Through the addition of these attributes to characters in many works, by authors like Shake...... middle of article ......akespeare Bulletin 23.4 (2005): 19-32. International bibliography of theater and dance with full text. Internet. October 12, 2013. Lidz, Theodore. Hamlet's enemy: madness and myth in Hamlet. New York: Basic Books Inc., 1975. Print. Mitchell, Elvis. “A simpler melancholy.” Reverend from Hamlet, dir. Michael Almereyda. The New York Times May 20, 2000. web. October 12, 2013. Senator, Taraknath. “Hamlet's Treatment of Ophelia in the Convent Scene” The Modern Language Review 35.2 (1940): 145-152. JSTOR. Internet. November 12, 2013. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet.City of publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Print.Simon, John. “A will but no way.” Reverend from Hamlet, dir. Michael Almereyda. National Review June 19, 2000: 59-60. Military and government collection. Internet. October 12, 2013.Walley, Harold. “Shakespeare’s Conception of Hamlet.” PMLA 48.3 (1933): 777-789. JSTOR Arts and Sciences III. Internet. November 15. 2013.