Is Hamlet mad? A close analysis of the play reveals that Hamlet is straightforward and sane. His actions and thoughts are a logical response to the situation in which he finds himself. However, he assumes antic-disposition to undercover the truth of his father's death.

In the first act, Hamlet appears to be very straightforward in his actions and thoughts. When questioned by Gertrude about his melancholy appearance Hamlet says, "Seems, madam? Nay it is know not seems" (I, ii, 76). This is to say, "I am what I appear to be." Later he makes a clear statement about his thoughts of mind when he commits himself to revenge. Hamlet says, "I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain" (I, iv, 99-103). With this statement, the play makes a transition. Hamlet gives up the role of a student and mourning son, and commits himself to nothing else but the revenge of his father's death. There is no confusion and certainly no sign of madness in Hamlet's character. In Chapel Scene, when Claudius is praying alone for his guil

The purpose of Hamlet feigning madness is to undercover the truth about the events leading up to and involving the death of his father. Hamlet says to Horatio, "How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on" (I, v, 169-171). This play-acting allows Hamlet to determine if his uncle has played any part in the scheme. By pretending he is insane, he is able to get more information about the death of his father. "Play goers are shocked when Hamlet burst into his mother's bedroom. This action is generally interpreted as a sign of his discourteous nature". In the Queen's closet scene, Hamlet also acts crazy in front of his mother imagining that there is a ghost in her room. He tries to make her feel guilty enough to confess her sins. He says to his mother, "Why, look you there! Look, how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he liv'd! Look, where he goes, even now out at the portal!" (III, iv, 132-136). I believe another reason for Hamlet to feign madness in front of Claudius is as for her mother, he wanted to drive Claudius to the breaking point of confession and he was successful. In Chapel Scene, Claudius gives way to the guilt which is beginning to torment him despite all his practical efforts to protect himself. He says," O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, A brother's murder" (III, iii, 36-38).

When Hamlet appears again in Act Two, it seems that he has lost the conviction and shows a puzzling duplicitous nature. He has yet to take up the part assigned to him by the ghost. He spends the act walking around, reading, talking with Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the players. It is not until

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Approximate Word count = 1175
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)