Was Hamlet Really Insane Research Paper

One of Shakespeare’s most infamous plays, Hamlet, has left many questioning one thing. Was Hamlet truly insane? There are several very convincing reasons for both sides of this debate, but there is more evidence proving that Hamlet was indeed insane. At the beginning of the play, the readers learn that he was grieving the death of his father, which was the stepping stone that paved his eventual madness. A few reasons Hamlet is actually insane are as follows, he becomes very misogynistic toward the two people left that he loves, he becomes obsessed with proving Claudius’ guilt, and lastly he pushes everyone around him away. Hamlet spent a lot of time convincing those around him that he was mad, but he may have convinced himself in the process.

This includes his mother Gertrude and his lover Ophelia, who cared about Hamlet greatly. As the play went on Hamlet’s misogynistic views became clearer as he slowly slipped further into madness. One example of this would be when Hamlet spoke to Ophelia and said “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1). Hamlet finds both Ophelia and Gertrude guilty of any wrongdoing they may have done. Hamlet also called his mother’s marriage incestuous even though no one else agrees with him, further proving that he was insane.

Hamlet spent quite a bit of time trying to prove Claudius’ guilt and attempting to murder him. He stages a play with a plot very similar to the death of King Hamlet and Hamlet planned to watch Claudius’ reaction to see if he really was guilty. In all of that, Hamlet attempted to kill Claudius but ended up killing Polonius by accident. Hamlet really was insane because he genuinely was told to take revenge by the ghost of his father. Hamlet ran the risk of conversing with the devil, which was a thought that passed through his head, but he denied any potential