Hamlets Sanity Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlets SanityThroughout Shakespeare?s play, Hamlet, the main character, little Hamlet, is faced with the responsibility of attaining vengeance for his return?s murder. He decides to misrepresent craziness as part of his plan to gain the opportunity to get the better of Claudius. As the play progresses, his depiction of a madman becomes increasingly believable, and the characters rough him react accordingly. However, through his inner suppositions and the apparent reasons for his actions, it is clear that he is non really mad and is simply an actor simulating insanity in separate to fulfill his duty to his father. Hamlet moreover claims madness because it allows him to say and carry through actions he otherwise would be prohibited from, while keeping hoi polloi from taking his actions seriously. This seems to be part of his initial plan that is first mentioned when he asks Horatio and Marcellus not to make any remarks in relation to his ?antic disposition (1.5.192).? Ha mlet?s madness allows him to talk to Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius in a appearance unsuitable for a prince. He is often disrespectful and insulting in his remarks. Although his acting backfires during his speech to Gertrude, Hamlet is able to severely criticize her for her actions because she thinks he is in in their right minds(predicate). During the play he also makes many sexual innuendos and even blatantly sexual remarks towards Ophelia such as ?That?s a fair estimate to lie between maids? legs (3.2.125).? His convincing insanity act gives him the chance to exit his anger towards Ophelia for her abandonment. Similarly, in another scene, he is able to tell Polonius his honest feelings through his guise. Upon Polonius deciding to ?take leave? of Hamlet, Hamlet replies, ?You cannot, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal (2.2.233).? Furthermore, Hamlet uses his madness as almost an excuse, and definitely part of his apology, towards Laertes for his murdering of Polonious. Would a madman be able realize he was mad and call his actions uncontrollable? Were it not for his ?madness? he would have been reprimanded rather than feared, pitied, or ignored. Hamlet?s madness redirects attention away from what he is thinking about his father?s death, and puts it on why he has gone insane. This allows only himself to crawl in what he is truly thinking, does not require him to answer any questions as to why he might be acting strange, a... ...th him in plate he is biased. A madman would not have had the foresight, reason, or perchance even care, to think in this very organized fashion. Even when unbelieving whether ?to be or not to be (3.1.64)? Hamlet is sane in his thinking. He measures the ?pros and cons? of his situation, and although at this point he appears mad to most everyone, he is most definitely sane in thought. Hamlet can be considered no worse than an eccentric, determined, and possibly single-minded man, who was made so by his father?s murder and his request for revenge. His feigned madness is keep because it allows him to continue with his plans. This madness is not, however, sustained when guard is unnecessary. Maybe Hamlet thought too much, but he thought as a sane man would. He commits no actions without reason, and he is far too scheming and organized to be proclaimed mentally unstable. Hamlet?s characterization of a madman is also very complex because it allows not only his points to be made, but in a believably insane way, which contrasts greatly with the expected ramblings of a truly insane person. BibliographyShakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Cyrus Hoy. 2nd ed. New York Norton, 1992.