The most controversial question arising out of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is whether or not Prince Hamlet is sane or not. On the surface, which the characters in the play see, Hamlet, very obviously, is acting like an insane person. It’s only on a deeper level, that we, as an audience, are able to understand his actions and perceive them to be sane acts all part of a like plan. An abundance of evidence exists to support this perception. Even at times when Hamlet’s actions are so hysterical and morally wrong, there are always good reasons. For a prince who has suffered through his father’s murder, along with his mother’s quick marriage to his uncle, Hamlet never once displays any acts that are not sane.
After learning of his father’s unnatural death in the first act, Hamlet’s plan is born. He tells Horatio he will put on an “antic disposition” and feign madness. Hamlet also tells Horatio not to worry, and to ignore the strange things he will do and say because it’s all part of the plan. Hamlet must kill Claudius to avenge his father. The reason for the “antic disposition,” going along with the plan, is to draw away suspicion from himself and not get punished when he does kill the King. It’s true that people are hurt
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It is in this scene Hamlet admits to his mother that he has a plan and is essentially not mad, but rather mad in craft. First, he needed to fool her for the same reason he needed to fool everyone else; to keep the suspicion level of him on low. In reality, saying something like that to people who know you love them can easily make them believe that something is horribly wrong within yourself. Hamlet tells Horatio, “Absent thee from felicity awhile, and in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain to tell my story “ (V;ii;360-362). Gertrude now feels her life threatened and screams for help, causing Polonius to scurry and reveal his location. Hamlet slays Polonius, who is hiding behind the tapestry, which leads to the revelation of more proof that Hamlet was aware of his actions. That idea was exactly what Hamlet was going for because he needed to distance himself from Ophelia for a couple of reasons.
Two more occurrences that prove Hamlet’s sanity come in the final scene. First, going back to before Polonius is killed, Hamlet is involved in a heated discussion with his mother in her chambers. He also knows he will have to do and say some outrageous things to people he truly loves in order for his goal to be achieved. An example of such comes from act 3, scene 1, when Hamlet verbally abuses Ophelia. As it turned out, the spy was Polonius and the reason Hamlet was not distraught was because he knew Polonius was in bed with Claudius. The other reason Hamlet had to fool Ophelia was it was a way to put their relationship on hold until he killed the King, got his revenge, escaped punishment, and returned to his noble self. First, when the Queen proclaims the drink was poisoned, Hamlet’s response is, “o villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked! Treachery! Seek it out” (V;ii;321-322).
Approximate Word count =
1392
Approximate Pages =
6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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