y 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 every...
