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Sanity And Insanity In Hamlet

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Since the early times, people have discussed whether those among them are truly sane or not. During the Shakespearian Era, nobody actually understood who was insane and those who were merely more eccentric than most. One of the most debated plays of all time is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Many professors and scholars have analyzed and questioned Hamlet’s sanity. Hamlet displays the characteristics of sanity throughout the play. Many have debated what the true definition of sanity is. The subject of sanity and insanity has been discussed for thousands of years and the even now all of the definitions vary. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary sanity is, “the quality or state of being sane; soundness or health of mind” (Merriam Webster. p. 1.). Sanity is believed to be a healthy mind. Sane people are able to think more clearly, logically, and morally. They know right from wrong and are able to show feelings of remorse or regret. Sanity has many different definitions; however, they all say to have a healthy mind. Hamlet appears to have a sound mind despite using his antic disposition to appear to be insane. Hamlet had a plan …show more content…

Crawford states that Shakespeare includes Hamlet’s fits of madness were deliberately used to make Claudius and his attendants confused and for them to think Hamlet’s mental health is deteriorating. Crawford analyzes, “The fact that he [Hamlet] has made it appear like real madness to many critics today only goes to show the wideness of his knowledge and the greatness of his dramatic skill” (Crawford. 1916. p 1.). Crawford states that Hamlet is merely acting insane and he is extremely clever for doing this. He says that because there is such a big debate over Hamlet’s sanity goes to show how clever Hamlet was in his approach to revenge. Crawford explains Hamlet was sane and was only pretending to insane to perplex

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Polonius explains Hamlet 's madness to Claudius and Gertrude, “Mad call I it, for, to define true madness. What it 't but to be nothing else but mad? But let that go (Act 2, Scene 2, lines 93-94). Polonius then goes on to describe his ides of the stages of Hamlet 's madness and his inability to sleep, “And he, repelled-a short tale to make- Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, Thence to a lightness, and by this declension Into the madness wherein now he raves, And all we mourn for” (Act 2, Scene 2, lines 146-151).

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