Hamlet Insanity In Hamlet

Are you insane? A question that is always frequently asked when one questions another’s choices and decisions. A question that even to this day has no defining definition or concrete symptoms that are followed by it, and even in the legal system has its own grey areas that applied to some or exploited by others. Nevertheless the real question is that is Hamlet insane. Based on the legal definition of insanity as being a “n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior”(dictionary.law.com). By using this definition of insanity, it establishes a set of guidelines that establish Hamlet as being mad and as proves that he is insane.
The first evidence that shows Hamlet’s insanity would be when he first sees his father’s ghost. In the play after Hamlet has already confronted his mother and killed Polonius, he is confronted by the ghost who tells him to not hurt his mother. As their conversation takes place the Queen is unable to see the ghost of the late king Hamlet, and this can be seen when she states “And with th’ incorporal air do hold discourse” and “Whereon do you look?”(III.4), meaning Hamlet who are you arguing with. Thus showing that the ghost of the late king can be only seen by Hamlet. Which can be seen when Hamlet tells his mother to see “how pale he glares” while pointing to his father and says “Do you see nothing there”