Examples Of Not Insane In Shakespeare's Hamlet

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Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of the most controversial plays in literary history. One of the many controversies within the play is whether or not Hamlet was truly mad. The fact that Hamlet is not insane can be proved in the way he acts and speaks, not only to other characters, but in soliloquies as well. One major sign that Hamlet is not crazy is that he openly admits to Ophelia that he is only pretending to be mad to revenge his father's death. It is also evident when he is talking with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when he even says, "I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw,”(Act II, Scene II). This means that he feels as if he is mad but can still decipher between his friends and his enemies. This open acceptance of his mental state shows that he is not crazy. Another factor that proves Hamlet is not mad is how he meticulously planned out how he would bring about revenge. An example of this is when he tells Horatio and Marcellus that he will be acting insane to make revenge possible. He also writes the play to prove Claudius guilty of King Hamlet's murder, "I'll have grounds more relative than this: the play 's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (Act II, Scene II). If Hamlet were truly insane he wouldn't have been able …show more content…
When comparing how he speaks in front of Claudius, for example, is much different than when he is talking to Horatio. In Act III, Scene II, Hamlet tells Horatio, "Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man as e'er my conversation coped withal," which shows the friendship between him and Horatio. However, once Claudius walks in the room, Hamlet changes how he speaks and begins talking nonsense, "Excellent, i’faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed". This change in character when Claudius enters shows that Hamlet is faking insanity to revenge his father's
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