Why Is Hamlet Insane

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The idea of madness is common among many literary pieces, including 1 Samuel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Odyssey and Hamlet in which feigning madness portrays the sanity of the characters. The play, “Hamlet,” by playwright William Shakespeare, demonstrates the tragic story of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who may or may not be insane. His overall change in behaviour was caused due to the murder of his late father, King Hamlet, by his uncle who is the current king and his mother’s second husband, King Claudius. Ophelia’s lack of affection and attention also affected his sanity. Throughout the play, Hamlet puts on an act to be mad around certain people to show that he is not a threat and to demonstrate his capability to elaborate and execute …show more content…

Hamlet indicates that he must “put an antic disposition on” (1.5.179-180) in order to realize his plans. He also claims that “[he] must be idle” (3.2.88). This reveals part of his plan in the hunt for confirmation regarding his suspicions of Claudius’ involvement in his father’s murder. It also reveals that by putting on this act, he is capable of confusing and fooling many, especially Claudius, to think that he has gone mad, and therefore he does not pose a threat by his presence. By doing so, Hamlet can keep an eye on those he suspects, without revealing his true intentions. Therefore, Hamlet’s lunacy is only an act, which is revealed to be an important part of his plan to avenge those who did him and his father …show more content…

He only acts insane in the presence of Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, whereas he is sane in front of Horatio, Bernardo, Marcellus, Francisco and the players whom he used to confirm Claudius’ involvement. Hamlet claims “[that he] essentially [is] not in madness, but mad in craft” (3.4.189-190). This demonstrates that he is intentionally acting the part of a madman in order to attain his objective. He attempts to capture the attention of certain characters whom he suspects to be part of his father’s death. Through his deceiving performance, the prince is able to learn the involvement of other characters in his father’s murder, because he does not trust them and thinks that in some way they are all linked to Claudius. Whereas, regarding Horatio, Bernardo, Marcellus, Francisco and the actors, he has included them in his plans and believes that they will help him with his motives. Therefore, the young prince puts on an act in which he is only pretending to be mad among certain people, in order to gather information regarding their involvement in the recent

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