The view that Hamlet pretends to be mad is supported by his warning to Horatio that he will put on an 'antic disposition'. This would seem to suggest that Hamlet does initially intend to feign madness. His

In lines which would appear to be sincere, Hamlet actually tells Laertes before their duel that he has been mad and apologises for his actions: 'How I am punished with a sore distraction. What I have done that might your nature, honour and exception roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness'.

In my opinion, there is no doubt that Hamlet's initial plan was to firgn madness. Although it may have been to prevent him having to take action, it was most likelt to allow him time to think and fully comprehend the news about his father's death. However as Hamlet's character deteriorates through the play, I was able to gain the impression that Hamlet's mind was becoming more and more disrupted by the responsibility placed on his shoulders by the ghost and the result of his killing of Polonius and Ophelia's death. Therefore, a loss of control and a failure to overcome a powerful emotion, failure and discust, resulted in his mad

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 625
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)