Is Hamlet Really Insane?

Sanity, the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner; sound mental health. In Shakespeare's incredibly dramatic play Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet is questioned of his sanity. Hamlet does display irrational thinking to the surrounding people. Actually, Hamlet is sane and extremely smart along with being an exceptionable actor. Hamlet uses insanity to benefit him in the revenge of his father's death. In act one, Hamlet begins to start to form a plan. Hamlet starts his facade by saying: But come; Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself- As I perchance hereafter shall think meet- To put an antic disposition on- (Bevington 1421) Hamlet is speaking to his trusted friend Horatio.

Hamlet says that he will merely act crazy because he believes that it will help him revenge his father’s death. He uses his intelligence and acting skills to make people believe he is insane.

Polonius is the first to believe that Hamlet has gone mad.

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He says to Gertrude “ Madam, I swear I use no art at all. / That he is mad, ’tis true. Tis true, ’tis pity, / And pity ’tis ’tis true—a foolish figure,” (Bevington 1429). Polonius tells the queen that he believes Hamlet is crazy. Polonius infers that Hamlet is mad because he was rejected by Ophelia along with mourning his father's death and his mother’s quick remarriage. After speaking with Hamlet, Polonius concludes that Hamlet is using madness to gain something, but he does not know Hamlet’s plans.

Polonius says to Hamlet “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” (Bevington 1431). Hamlet continues to act insane and increases the intensity of his acting. He preservers in his endeavors to make more people believe he is crazy. While speaking to Guildenstern, Hamlet says “I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.” (Bevington 1435).

Hamlet is saying that he can control his madness but Guildenstern fails to realize this is what he meant. In act three, Hamlet also shows his saneness by contemplating the Ghost’s intentions and suicide. In doing this, Hamlet shows rational thinking and knows that if he follows through with suicide he will not be able to avenge his father. While Hamlet is speaking with Ophelia, Claudius is watching from a distance and says “ ...though it lacked form a little, / Was not like madness.” (Bevington 1445). The king believes Hamlet is not mad and fears his intelligence, so he sends Hamlet to England. Hamlet allows only a few to know that he is not truly mad. He lets his mother know he is not mad by saying “That I essentially am not in madness / But mad in craft.” (Bevington 1466).

He also says that he does not want his mother to tell the king he is faking his madness. After Hamlet returns from England, he stumbles upon two gravediggers that do not recognize him. Hamlet asks the gravediggers about himself to judge the effectiveness of his acting. Hamlet asks “How came he mad?” The gravedigger responds by saying “Faith, e’en with losing his wits.”(Bevington 1490). This let Hamlet know that he had done a great job in convincing people of his insanity. Hamlet was not insane but in complete control. He used his intelligence and acting skills to convince people that he was insane. Hamlet used insanity to benefit him in his plan to avenge his father. He allowed only close people to know his true intentions while making others believe he is mad. Finally, Hamlet dies and accomplishes his goal of revenge while leaving people to believe he might still be insane.

References

• Britannica - Hamlet by Shakespeare
• MIT Shakespeare - The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
• SparkNotes - Hamlet