The Insanity Of Hamlet's Madness In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

In Hamlet by William Shakespeare he uses Hamlet’s madness to cause conflict between Hamlet and the other characters. Shakespeare has Hamlet fake madness throughout the whole play to find out who killed his father, and to trick the new king into thinking that he is really mad.
Before Hamlet goes mad he tells Horatio, “How strange or odd some’er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on)” (1.5.176-177). Allen states, “Either Hamlet was “not himself” at this time, or else he was beginning to play the part of a madman” (435). Hamlet reveals to Horatio know from the start that he is going to fake his madness. Hamlet then goes on in Act Three with faking his madness states that, “I must be idle” (3.2.92).

Before Hamlet speaks to Polonius, he has already spoken with the King and told him that he is mad, “Your noble son is mad” (2.2.92). When Hamlet is speaking with Polonius in Act Two Scene Two, he is making Polonius believe that he does not know him, and that he does not know anything about Ophelia. Polonius then says toward the end of their conversation in an aside that, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't” (2.2.207-208). Polonius’ use of irony in this line makes the reader believe that he thinks Hamlet really is mad, but he does not know

Hamlet says in an aside, “These tedious old fools” (2.2.221). Hamlet uses sarcasm to emphasize that he is just faking his madness. Hamlet also has his mother fooled into thinking that he is mad. In Act Three Hamlet is in his mother’s private room when she accuses him of being mad. “Alas, he’s mad” (3.4.110). Hamlet then goes on to say later in that scene that, “I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft” (3.4.193-194). Hamlet reveals to only his mother that he is faking his madness.
In the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have no idea about Hamlet faking his madness. Bevington stated that, “Not knowing the true cause can only interpret Hamlet’s behavior as dangerous madness” (299). Guildenstern says that Hamlet is at a, “Crafty Madness” (3.1.8). Hamlet’s madness lasted throughout the whole play. Hamlet said this quote, “I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw” (2.2.384-385). Hamlet is trying to tell Guildenstern that he is only mad sometimes, but other times he is faking.
Crawford believes that Hamlet is faking his