Is Hamlet Crazy

848 Words4 Pages
Madness plays an important role in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. It is a theme that pushes Hamlet, along with a handful of characters, to their breaking point. While Hamlet’s madness is said to have been “acting”, as the play progresses, the audience starts to question his true motifs. Is he really insane? Is he just an amazing actor? Is he so convincing that he himself eventually goes crazy? This effective plot device raises many doubts and pushes the story forward through the use of imagery, diction, and tone. When Hamlet is ordered to avenge his father’s death, he has to gain more information first before taking action. In order to do so, he goes “crazy”. However, that is only inferred by the audience as Hamlet…show more content…
No one is certain of the reason behind his change in behavior. Is his lunacy caused by “his father’s death” (2.2.57)? By his mother’s “o’erhasty marriage” (2.2.57)? Or by “… the very ecstasy of love” (2.1.100)? Hamlet uses this uncertainty to his advantage by toying with other characters’ feelings and confusing them to obscure his plans. He becomes an enigma. None of the characters, save his confidant, Horatio, will be able to figure him or his plan out. Furthermore, he is also able to express his true opinions of others to that character without offending anyone. Here, Shakespeare’s unique diction will show the audience a different side of Hamlet. For example, he knows of Ophelia’s father, yet Hamlet claims that “…[Polonius is] a fishmonger” (2.2.173). Polonius merely views Hamlet’s insult as a result of his madness, but the audience knows that Hamlet has meant a completely different meaning. Polonius may interpret “fishmonger” as fish seller, but Hamlet may have meant to call him a procurer. By now, the audience can see that his craziness is a highly effective tool because it acts as an invincible shield. No matter what he says or does, Hamlet will receive sympathy and disregard. This gives Shakespeare the opportunity to select certain diction, which adds more individuality to Hamlet’s…show more content…
He could’ve easily attempted to kill Claudius immediately and directly. However, Hamlet decides that he needs confirmation of the ghost’s story. To do so, he devises a plan to go crazy. While Hamlet intends for his madness to be a well thought out but fictitious machination, the audience can’t help but feel as if Hamlet has already had a bit of true madness in him. No logical person would ever think about madness as their first choice of plan. Nonetheless, Hamlet’s idea is genius since he is able to say whatever he likes in order to manipulate other people’s thinking without them knowing. He says to Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery: Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinner…” (3.1.118), and to Queen Gertrude, “Mother, you hath my father much offended” (3.4.10). His tone as he speaks to these ladies is of disbelief. He is disappointed at their disloyalty and dependency. The tone Hamlet utilizes during the conversations sounds like he is trying to guilt trip Ophelia and Gertrude. By bringing up their faults, Hamlet is forcing them to realize their wrongdoing. It sounds slightly selfish on Hamlet’s part because he is pushing them to come to his conclusion and not their own. This also shows how the people who care about Hamlet are slowly starting to give up on his return to normal behavior. By acting mad, Hamlet has become
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