Madness is often portrayed as random actions of insanity. However, Shakespeare's tragic hero, Hamlet shows this is not true. His apparent madness was actually a series of pre-meditated actions. After meeting with his father's ghost, Hamlet cunningly devises a plan to "put an antic disposition on"(fake his madness) (1, 5, 192) in order to seek more answers to this mysterious death of his father.
             Although very convincing, Hamlet's "antic disposition" does not completely fool everyone. While Hamlet is enjoying mocking Polonius, Polonius begins to believe "though this be madness, there is method in 't" (2, 2, 223-224), hinting that he is on to Hamlet's act. Claudius is also suspicious of Hamlet's apparent madness. After witnessing the meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia, he makes the decision to keep an eye on Hamlet, saying "madness in great ones must not unwatched go" (3, 1, 203). Because Claudius isn't sure what Hamlet is planning he warns that Hamlet must be carefully watched. The king sees Hamlet "will be some danger, which for to prevent" (3, 1, 181) he sends him off to England. Claudius realizes that the madness that Hamlet is showing could be dangerous to himself, or his kingdom and hastily makes a decision to ship Hamlet off. It is evident that people are noticing Hamlet to be too cunning to be mad. Hamlet is not mad because he is so in tune with others that he can mock them so subtly without them even noticing.
             Hamlet reveals his sanity to characters that are very loyal to him or are too incompetent to comprehend what he is saying. After speaking with the ghost for the first time Hamlet tells Horatio that from "hereafter [he] shall think meet to put an antic disposition on" (1, 1, 191-192) and no matter how odd he acts that he not Hamlet is mad. Hamlet only shows his mad side in the presence of a few characters like Claudius, Polonius, Ophe...