Insanity In Hamlet Research Paper

Throughout Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, it is obvious that Hamlet's character seems to act a little off. Since the recent death of his father, it is clear that he is very upset like anyone else would be after just losing a loved one. Because of the events that lead to King Hamlet's death and the events after his death, it had caused his son to behave in a way that was not considered normal. There have been many debates as to whether or not Hamlet was truly mad, or if there was a method to his madness. Although Hamlet appears to be mad, he is not at all. While many believe Hamlet to be insane, there is plenty of evidence that suggests otherwise. To the other character’s in the play, Hamlet did seem mad, but that was only because he had a plan

This is his admission to Gertrude that he is faking his insanity in order to do something that involves a bigger picture. Hamlet even asks Gertrude not to speak to King Claudius of this so that he can further continue his madness and conceal his true motive. Even though Hamlet’s act of insanity was meant to fool Claudius, the king did not believe that he was actually insane. Claudius even says “When he spake, though it lack’d form a little. Was not like madness”(Shakespeare). Even though Hamlet was speaking in a way that was not well constructed, Claudius could tell that he wasn’t truly insane. Also, throughout the play, Hamlet only acts insane in front of certain people. When Hamlet is around Ophelia, Polonius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz, or Guildenstern he acts mad because he knows that these characters are working alongside Claudius, who he is also acting mad in front of. Throughout the entire play, these are the only characters that claim Hamlet to be mad, which he tries to use to his advantage in order to get vengeance. On the other hand, in front of Horatio, Francisco, Bernardo, the play actors and the gravediggers, Hamlet acts completely normal. This is because these people are not in cohorts with his uncle, therefore he does not have to fool these people into thinking he's insane. This control

His father had passed away and he had mourned for only a brief period of time before his life drastically changed, once again. Right after the death of his father, his mother got remarried to his uncle, the king's brother. Something like this was already hard enough for Hamlet to deal with, but now he can’t even have his mother to help him get through this emotional situation. Gertrude was off with Claudius, who had no regard for Hamlet’s well being. The only thing Claudius said to Hamlet about his father's death was that “must know your father lost a father, That father lost, lost his.”(Shakespeare). Claudius even insults Hamlet and does not approve of him mourning because he thinks it is unmanly. “’Tis unmanly grief” (Shakespeare). It was clear to Hamlet that no one else was really mourning for his father, which also would have led him down a further path of sadness and isolation. Also, now that Hamlet is well aware that Claudius is not paying much regard to his father, knowing that his mother is marrying such a man is even more heart crushing to him. Throughout Hamlet’s entire life, he thought his parents were so in love and to see his mother forget his father within two months of his death could cause anyone to act a little off. Hamlet was so upset about Gertrude that he could hardly form sentences. “A little month, or ere