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Is Hamlet Crazy Or Crafty Analysis

758 Words4 Pages

Crazy or Crafty? Throughout The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s sanity is constantly questioned. There are countless examples of times where Hamlet is clearly planning to act crazy, but there are also times where it seems he has truly gone mad. Especially towards the end of the play when he is interacting with his mother or when Ophelia dies his emotions and rage cause the audience to question his sanity, but how would anyone in that situation act differently? His father died, which was traumatic enough, but on top of that his mother married his uncle shortly after. He is consumed by his desire for revenge, the traumatic death of his father and his mother marrying his uncle, and the guilt he feels for his treatment of Ophelia. Hamlet is not crazy, but there are some emotional issues he has to overcome. In an early conversation between Horatio and Hamlet, Hamlet had just heard from the ghost how his father truly died. Hamlet says to Horatio “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on” (I, 5, 196-7). Hamlet informs Horatio that he is going to act crazy, so Horatio doesn’t question him or become doubtful of his insanity. From this moment forward, Hamlet becomes so …show more content…

Before Hamlet kills him, he wants to make sure that Claudius is truly guilty. Hamlet invites players to the castle to perform a play, but Hamlet makes some changes, so that he can watch Claudius’s reactions. As the players arrive, Hamlet turns to his old friend Guildenstern and says “my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived… I am but mad north-north west. When the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw” (II, 2, 385-389). Again, Hamlet admits his insanity is all an act. A true crazy man would kill Claudius because a ghost told him too. Hamlet has a conscience and morals that force him to ensure that Claudius is truly guilty before he takes

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