nfined fast to the fires,/ Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature/ are burntand purged away” (1.4.10-13). Hamlet is rational enough to realize that the“undiscovered country from whose born/ No traveler returns” (3.1.79-80) may hold farworse realities for him than his present earthly uncertainties. The prince’s composureand cool reason prevent him from taking his own life, or as he puts it, “the native hue ofresolution/ Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought” (3.1.84-85).This view, that Shakespeare believed that suicide was only a legitimate option tothe insane, is supported by evidence that he did not intend Hamlet to be insane. Themost compelling evidence is found in the way Hamlet switches between being rationaland acting mad, according to who he was talking to. For example in scene two Hamletacts quite mad for Polonius. The old advisor even remarks upon Hamlet possessing “ahappiness that often madness hits on, which reason and/ sanity could not so prosperouslybe delivered of” (2.2.211-213). Then, only moments later, Hamlet switches gears todeliver his “What a piece of work is man!” (2.2.297-314) speech, to Rosencrantz andGuildenstern. Likewise, his “To be or not to be...” (3.1.56-90) soliloquy, a rational andcoherent speech on death, is directly followed by the famous “Nunnery Scene” (3.1.153). Also, the fact that Horatio, the prince’s best friend and confidant, did not believe him tobe mad, and it is obvious that Shakespeare did not intend Hamlet to be insane. Hamletproves to be sane, and escape his suicide, however he still posses the flaw of anger,which results in tragedy of himself.Before the ghost arrives to deliver his message, Hamlet has a conversation withHoratio, which foreshadows the idea that Hamlet knows he posses a tragic flaw. He says, “As infinite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censur...
