Was Hamlet acting Insane or was he actually Insane?

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Recommended: Shakespeare’s obsession with madness

Insanity is difficult to determine because it is hidden in your mind and it develops over time. So is Hamlet insane or does he just act to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet decides to feign madness which he thinks will help him to discover the truth behind his father’s death. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet’s plan seems to be going smoothly as he throws some people off guard and he actually appears to be intentionally insane. However, as the story goes on, the pretending to be mad decreases a large amount and it seems that Hamlet is actually becoming insane. In the end, the insane Hamlet is unaware of the chaos and grief he inflicts on himself and everyone he loves. Instead of controlling his mentality, it controls him which results in tragedy and death.
The events at the beginning of the play are so tragic that they are enough to drive anyone mad. When he returns home, he discovers that his father is dead and his mother is now married to Claudius, the brother of King Hamlet. After this devastating news, a ghost speaks to Hamlet which is actually the King’s spirit. He learns that Claudius murdered his father. He then vows to avenge his father’s death, and plots to catch Claudius. After this meeting, the Prince pretends to be insane to see if the ghost is telling the truth. You can understand why Hamlet would act insane because of these terrible events taking place.
Initially, Hamlet’s plan is to act insane to find out exactly what happened to his father but he wants to also avenge his death. This state of mind allows Hamlet to behave in almost anyway and not be questioned about his behaviour. Hamlet knows that having the correct facts is so important because without hard evidence he may unjustly kill his uncle and have to d...

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...set with Hamlet for murdering his father, Polonius, and conspires with King Claudius against Hamlet. After all these tragic events it gets worse, Hamlet’s two very best friends plot against him, it drives him mad. It all starts with an act of insanity, then there is less acting involved and it finally ends up as Hamlet’s reality and tragedy for all.
In conclusion, Hamlet could be considered insane, it is not just an act. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is acting mad in order to avenge his father’s death, therefore he is able to gain vital information regarding King Hamlet’s death. However, this act soon takes over Hamlet’s life so his personality and appearance completely changes and he starts to hurt the people most important and close to him. Therefore, at the end of the play he was not acting insane, this act takes over him and it actually becomes a reality.

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