"I am but mad north-northwest: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" (II.ii.387-8). This is a classic example of the "wild and whirling words" (I.v.133) with which Hamlet hopes to persuade people to believe that he is mad. These words, however, prove that beneath his "antic disposition," Hamlet is very sane indeed. Beneath his strange choice of imagery involving points of the compass, the weather, and hunting birds, he is announcing that he is calculatedly choosing the times when to appear mad. Hamlet is saying that he knows a hunting hawk from a hunted "handsaw" or heron, in other words, that, very far form being mad, he is perfectly capable of recognizing his enemies.

Hamlet's madness was faked for a purpose. He warned his friends he intended to fake madness, but Gertrude as well as Claudius saw through it, and even the slightly dull-witted Polonius was suspic

Finally, I am convinced of Hamlet's sanity by his very normal reactions to the people around him. He is perfectly sane, friendly and courteous with the players, giving them good acting tips, which they appreciate and respect. When Polonius and Claudius test the theory of rejected love by "loosing" Ophelia to him, Hamlet acts completely rationally. He greets Ophelia sweetly, gets a little cold when he remembers that he has not seen her "for this many a day," is very hurt when she returns his remembrances, and becomes completely furious, insulting womankind in general, when she lies to him about her father's whereabouts and he realizes he is being spied on. He reacts the way any hurt young rejected lover would. In the end, it is surprising that he is able to keep up the charade of faking madness for so long, and part of his tragedy is that it doesn't help him anyway; in the end, he avenges his father by killing Claudius not through an act of madness, but as a result of Claudius's own treachery.

Even Polonius can see that Hamlet has not completely lost touch with the world. Although he frequently misses the meanings of Hamlet's remarks and insults, he does recognize that they make some sense. After a confusing conversation with Hamlet he remarks, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't" (II.ii.207). When his theory of rejected love proves wrong, he becomes very suspicious of Hamlet's behavior and offers to test it by hiding behind the "arras" in Gertrude's bedroom so that he can listen in on Hamlet's private conversation with his mother. Polonius's suspicions about the legitimacy of Hamlet's madness lead to his death when Hamlet stabs the "arras" in the mistaken belief that the eavesdropper is Claudius.

A further important proof of his sanity is how patiently he devises plans to prepare for his revenge. As he explains to Horatio, his "antic disposition" is a device to test his enemies. His mounting of the play-within-the-play is another well-laid plan to trap Claudius into admitting guilt: "The play's the thing, Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (II.ii.616-17) and even when the play brings him concrete proof, he is careful not to rush to take his revenge at the wrong moment. He could easily kill Claudius while he is praying but restrains himself so that there is no chance of Claudius's entering heaven. Although Hamlet's patience can be seen as an example of his procrastination, I think that it is rather a sign of rationality. Hamlet shows himself perfectly capable of action, as well as of rational thought, in escaping the king's armed guard, dispatching Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths in England, dealing with the

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1798
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)