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hamlet1

hamlet1 William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” Shakespeare leads you to believe that the main character, Hamlet, might be insane. There are many clues to suggest Hamlet is insane but in fact, he is completely sane throughout the play. Hamlet makes wise Assessment that proves he is not insane. He knows exactly what he is leading up to. He just delays to act due to his indecisiveness. The issue of madness is one of major importance in this play. Is Hamlet truly mad, meaning insane, On the other hand, is he merely angry? Does he feign madness and use it as a guise? Or does he place himself so dangerously close to the line between sanity and insanity that he crosses it without even realizing it then again, is he so intelligent, cunning and in control that this is merely the playing out Of his completely conceived and well-executed plan of attack. An example of this is in Act III, section III, Hamlet says “Now might I do it pat, now ’a is a-praying, and now I’ll do it-and so ‘a goes to heaven, and so am I revenged that would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge.” He says here that he has his chance to kill his father’s murder, but he is praying. By killing, him while he is praying his soul goes to heaven and this would not be revenge. This is not a thought of an insane person. An insane person would have completed the murder at this opportunity. In Act III, scene I, “To be or not to be...” Hamlet displays his indecisiveness by thinking about suicide because of the situation he is in. He would rather be dead than live with the thought of his father’s death going UN revenge. He is scared to get revenge because he found out from a ghost and he does not know what to do. In line 83,” Thus conscience takes a major part in the thought and action of murder. This is why he delays so long to commit the murder. An insane person would not wait. They would be more apt to act in impulse. Hamlet’s madness only existed when he was in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Gildenstern, he behaves irrationally. For example in Act II, section II, Polonius asks Hamlet,” Do you know me, my Lord?” Hamlet replies,” Excellent well, you are a fishmonger”. Hamlet pretends not to know who Polonius is, even though he is Ophelia’s father. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo Fransisco, the players and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally. In Act I, section V, Hamlet says “How strange or odd some’er shall think meet to put on antic disposition), That you, at such times, seeing me, never shall, with arms encumbered thus, or this head shake,” He does not want Horatio to reveal anything that might be going on. If Horatio is not surprised by Hamlet’s supposed madness or he leads on that, he knows or something then Hamlet’s antic disposition will not be affective. He tells Horatio he will be acting mad and he must not say anything. If Hamlet plans to put on an act of anti disposition then he cannot be insane. Throughout the play, Hamlet questions everyone. He questions the ghost, is he real? He questions Rosencrantz and Gilderstern, Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, and Ophelia. In Act III sc. I Hamlet asks Ophelia “Ha, Ha! are you honest? Are you fair?” and “Where is your father?” Ophelia tells Hamlet he is at home. Hamlet somehow knows that Claudius and Polonius are spying him on so he pretends to be mad. At this point, the King says, “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.” He still is not completely convinced of Hamlet’s madness so he is cautious. Throughout the entire play, Hamlet is careful with his actions. He thinks everything through. Although he delayed his actions, he planned all his actions out instead of acting out in a foot of rage. He had to be completely sure before taking action. Hamlet was completely aware of his actions and what was morally correct. He never lost sight of his objective to expose the King’s sin of murdering his father and obtaining revenge. Hamlet was completely sane throughout this Shakespearean tragedy. Bibliography:

Word Count: 742