Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The play features a variety of complex and simple characters primarily in Denmark. Hamlet is the son of the recently deceased King Hamlet and step-son-nephew of the newly crowned King Claudius. Hamlet sets out for revenge on the king after discovering from his father’s ghost that his life was ended by his own brother, King Claudius. In an insane world, Hamlet decides to put on an insane appearance and temperament to disguise his efforts to exact his revenge. Despite being very emotionally disturbed, I do not believe Hamlet allows his “antic disposition” to overcome him.
Considering all the crazy, twisted events and conspiracies that go on, Hamlet seems very conscious of all that goes on around him. When King Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s childhood friends, to keep an eye on everything Hamlet does and report back to him confidentially. In Act IV Scene II, Hamlet tells Rosencrantz, “Ay, sir, [a lackey] that soaks up the King’s [favor], his rewards, his authority.” He is telling Rosencrantz that he knows how he runs off and whispers everything to the king. Hamlet
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Hamlet then goes about acting and speaking cryptically. There are several instances where he frightens people with his antics. However, when Hamlet says something that comes across as insane, there is usually a second meaning behind his choice of words. Polonius, the king’s advisor, picks up on this and states in an aside, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” Indeed, Hamlet had a method to his “madness.” Later, he even tells Queen Gertrude, his mother, that “I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft.” The skill and wit Hamlet uses with his double-meaning words assists in justifying he is very well sane and