Madness is an intricate and multifaceted topic. The purpose of this dissertation is to delve into the complexities of early modern insanity and examine its representation on the theatrical stage. It argues that, although madness can be harrowing and destructive, it can also provide a subversive form of power that grants individuals with the means to manipulate and gain autonomy over their surrounding environment. I will explore this idea through three separate categories; the madness of women, the madness of fools and the madness of kings.