Hamlets Feigned Madness
Hamlet’s Feigned MadnessHamlet’s Feigned Madness
In William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the main character, Hamlet uses madness as a disguise to fool the people of the court. Examples are given by character testimonies, including Hamlet, which suggest that Hamlet may be just putting on an act. Through out the play, Hamlet proves that he is not mad or insane by his observant and manipulative strategy, also his delay in actions due to his indecisiveness but knowing also exactly what he is leading up to through his wise decisions. This gives a great reason to believe that Hamlet is only acting out madness.
Some characters confess that Hamlet and his actions show signs that they can debate whether his insanity is authentic or not. Polonius states “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t (3.2. 206).” Polonius admits that Hamlet’s actions and words have a method to them. They appear to have a reason to them and are logical in nature. Claudius shows his uncertainty towards Hamlet’s supposed madness in this quote:
Love? His affections do not that way tend; nor what he spake, though it lacked form alittle, was not like madness. There’s something in his soul(3.1.165-167)
Claudius confesses that Hamlet’s actions, although out of character, do not appear to come from madness. Both statements prove that Hamlet’s act of madness is flawed and the fact that he is simply using insanity as a disguise is somewhat seen by other characters.
An example that Hamlet is just pretending to be insane to deceive people is when he proves to the reader that he is observant and aware of his own actions. Hamlet says:
“Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying, and now I’ll do it and so ‘a goes to heaven, and so am I revenged that would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. Why, this is hire and salery, not revenge (3.3.73).”
In this quote, he says that he has the chance to kill his father’s murderer, but he is praying. If Hamlet kills Claudius while he is praying, his soul goes to heaven, and that is not revenge. This thought is completely rational and could not of been thought of by a mad or insane person. Therefore, Hamlet’s actions are not of an insane man, but of a thinking, very sane and angry person.
Another example shows Hamlet lying about his madness when he tries to manipulate others into thinking that he is mad by saying he is not. Hamlet tells his mother, “That I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft (3.4.194-195).” Hamlet uses madness as a strategy for better observing and manipulating others and also to protect himself. Hamlet believes in himself and his sanity at all times. He never doubts his control over his sanity and is merely acting out madness. He takes cover under an artificial insanity, which absolves him from all responsibility, and is still able to think things through. He simply uses madness solely to disguise his true course of actions.
It is obvious that Hamlet is not insane when he shows indecisiveness even though he is still faking madness. Hamlet shows his uncertainty by thinking about suicide in Act III, scene I, line 65:
To be or not to be - that is the question: Wether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against the sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them.
He would rather be dead than live with the thought of his father’s death going unavenged. When Hamlet does try and avenge his father’s death in line 91 Hamlet states “Thus conscience does make cowards.” This is why Hamlet takes so long to commit the murder. An insane or mad person would not even consider his own conscience. Hamlet clearly displays his indecisiveness towards suicide and acts of murder through his own self-conscience.
In this play “Hamlet” it is apparent that the main character is written to make the reader believe he is mad or insane, but the examples throughout the play suggest that Hamlet is only disguising himself. He uses madness for observing and manipulating others. He shows that he has indecisiveness within his own self-conscience that proves that he is not insane and is very aware. Hamlet’s character only seems to be mad when he is simply just imitating insanity.