Melanie Vieira
January 26, 2007
English Honors - 1&2
One of literature's most debated topics is the question of the mental stability of William Shakespeare's prince Hamlet. William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" begins with the former king recently buried, and his wife remarried to his brother Claudius. Hamlet is still mourning his father's untimely death, while his mother Gertrude has moved on. Hamlet is upset that Gertrude remarried so soon after his father's death. Hamlet talks to his father's ghost, and the ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him. After learning that Claudius murdered his father, Hamlet decides to avenge his father's murder. Hamlet decides to feign insanity so that the king will not notice that he has found out about the murder. Although he says he is faking his "antic disposition", it is debatable whether or not he stops pretending, and actually becomes mad. However, because of his brilliant word-play, clear decision-making, and constant reminder to his friends of his sense, it is obvious that Hamlet never actually loses his sanity.
Although various characters say Hamlet is insane, he tells close friends that he is only feigning insanity. Hamlet confides his plan to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: " I am but made north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw." (Shakespeare, II.2, lines 349-350) Hamlet only wants everyone to think he is insane. After talking to his father's ghost, Hamlet tells Horatio he might feign madness: "I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on." (I.5, 170-171) Hamlet makes a conscious decision to seem mad because this is the way he wants them to perceive him.
The only character whose opinion of Hamlet's mental state that is trusthworthy is Horatio. In Hamlet's opinion, no one's opinion on his mental heath holds as much weight as Horatio's. He values how Horatio sees him and his story:
" ...what a wounded name,
Things thus unknown, shall I leave behind me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
absent the from felicity awhile,
and in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
to tell my story." (V.2, 323-328)
Hamlet knows Horatio is the only person who knows the whole truth, and not what his actions might have led him to believe. Some might argue that he chose that moment to confide in Horatio only because everyone else was dead, but Horatio was Hamlet's only true friend. There are secrets we keep from those who share our blood, but reveal to those who share our ideals. Horatio was the only one Hamlet could trust with his secrets. He was too angry with his mother to confide in her, and Ophelia lacked freewill- she would have revealed everything to her father.
Hamlet at one point tells Laertes that he was mad when he wronged him, but this madness was feigned,
"This presence knows and you must needs have heard,.
how I am punished with a sore distraction.
What I have done
that your nature, honour, and exception,
roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness." (V.2, 202-207)
This is the only time that Hamlet claims he is mad. He uses his feined madness as an excuse for killing Polonius. It would be ridiculous for him to admit that he mistook Polonius for Claudius. This would give away his plan to murder the king and would ruin his chances of avenging his father.
What further proves that Hamlet was not insane is the contrast between his and Ophelia's plight of insanity. Ophelia did not have a moment of sanity after her father's death, whereas Hamlet was clear-headed enough to work on how to avenge his father. When Claudius is kneeling in prayer, Hamlet has a chance to kill him, " ...now I'll do't [draws sword] and so he goes to heaven; and so am I revenged." (III.2, 73-75) He then decides against it: "That would be scanned; a villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain send to Heaven... and am then I revenged, to take him in the purging of his should, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No." (III.2, 75-87) Hamlet had the ability to reason things out whereas Ophelia did not- she rambled on senselessly while Hamlet paid close attention to what people were saying. In doing this he answered their comments with replies that seemed mad but were just literal answers to their questions. After Hamlet kills Polonius and hides his body, the king questions Hamlet:
King: No, Hamlet, where's Polonius?
Hamlet: At supper.
King: At supper? Where?
Hamlet: Not where he eats, but where 'a is eaten...Your fat king and your lean begger is but variable service- two dishes, but to one table. That's the end." (IV.3, 17- 23)
Hamlet's brilliance shines through in this scene. Not only does he use quick and witty responses, but hints at the death of a king, a warning to Claudius that his death is near, too.
On multiple occasions Hamlet states that his insanity was feigned. Many characters believe he was insane, but that was what he wanted them to believe. Hamlet's actions are those of a sane person when compared to the actions of Ophelia during her final hours. He was a sane and intelligent man who feigned insanity, and was able to fool those close to him, including his own mother. It is very clear that Hamlet is sane. The opinions of all the characters, except Horatio, concerning Hamlet's mental health cannot be considered correct. If Hamlet never said he was going to fake insanity, it would be easy to prove he was mad. Since he does say he is pretending insanity, the testimony of those he was lying to becomes unconvincing.