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...
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