nd Rosencrantz are sent by the King and Queen to question him and investigate the cause of his supposed madness. Hamlet’s actions in the play, after meeting the ghost, lead everyone except Horatio to believe he is crazy. Yet, that madness is continuously checked by an ever-present consciousness of action that never lets him lose control. For example, Hamlet questions his conduct in his soliloquy, but after careful consideration decides to go with his instinct and prove to himself without a doubt the King’s guilt before proceeding rashly. Even after the King’s guilt is proven with Horatio as a witness, Hamlet again reflects and uses his better judgement in the soliloquy before seeing his mother. He recognizes his passionate feelings, but tells himself to “speak daggers to her, but use none,” as his father’s ghost instructed. Again, when in the King’s chambers, Hamlet could perform the murder, but decides not to in his better judgement to ensure that the King doesn’t go to heaven by dying while praying. As Hamlet tells Guildenstern, “I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.” This statement reveals out-right Hamlet’s attempt to fool people with his odd behavior. This is after Polonious’ enlightened comment earlier in the same scene, “though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” Compare the copious evidence against Hamlet’s madness with the complete lack of evidence for Ophelia’s sanity after her father’s murder. Her unquestionable insanity puts Hamlet’s very questionable madness in a more favorable light. She is quite obviously mad, and, unlike Hamlet, there seems to be no method to her madness. All Ophelia can do after learning of her father’s death is sing. Indeed, Hamlet’s utter rejection of her combined with this is too much for her, and she does...
