Hamlet’s Insanity and Grief

With the first appearance of the foreboding ghost of Hamlet’s dead father, he learns the truth of his father’s death at the hands of treacherous uncle, the new king of Denmark, C

As the play progresses, Polonius grows increasingly suspicious of Hamlet, and begins to believe that Hamlet is not as insane as many have come to believe. Even though Polonius does not understand the meanings of Hamlets comments and insults, he does come to understand some. After a conversation with Hamlet Polonius comments, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t...” (Hamlet, Line 200, Act II*Scene II). As Polonius’ suspicions grow of Hamlet’s behavior, he decides to confirm his suspicions by hiding in Gertrude’s room, so he could hear the conversations between Hamlet and his mother. The decision to hide in Gertrude’s room leads to his death, where he is stabbed by Hamlet.

Is Hamlet truly insane and grief stricken? Or is it merely a ruse or mask put on by Hamlet to deceive? Hamlet may have been grief stricken, but not to the point of pushing him over the edge of sanity. In Hamlet’s private moments, through his conversations with Horatio, and in his plans of action, it can be seen that his insanity is merely a facade and that he is quite sane. Hamlet cleverly uses insanity to his advantage throughout the play by making it easier to test and gather information from his enemies. Which in the end helped him to achieve his revenge, even though it also caused his own death.

enter heaven. Hamlet shows himself to be quite capable of action, and rational thought, in avoiding his death by causing both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to loose their lives.

lau

Some topics in this essay:
II*Scene II, Polonius Gertrude, III*Scene IV, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, II Polonius’, IV Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Denmark Claudius, Claudius Hamlet, Guildenstern Rosencrantz, grief stricken, hamlet line, act ii*scene ii, ii*scene ii, father’s death, insane grief, act ii*scene, truly insane, insanity advantage, act iii*scene, stricken insanity, grief stricken insanity, insanity merely facade, truth father’s death, insane grief stricken,