Hamlet - "Antic-Disposition"

             When Hamlet appears again in act two, it seems that he has lost the conviction or confidence and shows a puzzling fraudulent nature. He has yet to take up the part assigned to him by the ghost. He spends the act walking around, reading, talking with Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the players. It is not until the very end of the act that he even mentions vengeance. If he had any of the conviction shown earlier, he would be presently working on his revenge. So instead of playing the part of vengeful son, or dropping the issue entirely, he hangs out in the middle, pretending to be mad. This is shown when he says to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "I know not "lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of/ exercises - (II, ii, 296-297) Later he tells them that he is just faking madness when he says, "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is/ southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw."" (II, ii, 376-377) Admitting so obviously that he is only pretending and faking madness would imply and mean that he is comfortable with it. He also seems to be generally comfortable with acting and showing his madness to everyone except for his friends like Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This is evidenced when he says, " there is nothing/ either good or bad but thinking makes it so - (II, ii, 249-250) Hamlet is saying that thought shapes our perception of reality. It is puzzling that Hamlet is comfortable with his antic disposition at this point but not with the role that he said he would play earlier. Ever since the death of King Hamlet Senior, young Hamlet has been in what has appeared to be in a state of melancholy or depression. In a discussion with Polonius, Hamlet questions Polonius by asking him "Have you a daughter?- (II, ii, 180) In this discussion Hamlet makes fun of Polonius when Hamlet would usually show great respect for him because of his age and of his high position in the court.