The Complexity of Identifying True Madness

The Complexity of Identifying True Madness

Madness is a condition in which is difficult to identify whether it is true or not. When Hamlet first comes into contact with his father's ghost, he is asked to take vengeance for his father's death. To achieve this task in a less evident way, Hamlet decides to put an antic disposition on. His behavior after the antic disposition both puzzles and frightens the people around him. William Shakespeare, the writer of Hamlet leaves readers to decide whether Hamlet is truly mad or not. Throughout Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet's unexpected madness is broken down through his real madness, fake actions, and the reactions of others towards his sudden insanity.

In some scenes Hamlet's madness seems genuine. For example, right before Hamlet kills Polonius "How now! a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!" (3.4, 25). Hamlet's madness is no longer questionable in Act III Scene IV when he irrationally chooses to kill Polonius instead of Claudius. Throughout the play readers question Hamlet's intentions and what kind of state of mind he is in. In this scene it shows that Hamlet has truly crossed the line into real madness. In addition, Hamlet kills without any logic behind his actions, which explains his loss of proper judgment for putting an antic disposition on. It is clear from the start of the play, Horatio and Marcellus try to pull Hamlet back, but Hamlet refuses to listen to them. Hamlet states, "Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen--/ Heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!/ I say, away" (1.4, 84-86). Hamlet places himself in a risky situation knowing he may get hurt, but the consequences do not concern him. Hamlet's initial intention was to approach the ghost but with no logic method or backup plan, his attitude is careless and impulsive, the characteristics of a person who is delusional and mad. Through Act III Scene IV Hamlet continues to prove he has genuinely gone mad when he threatens those who prevent him from speaking to the ghost as he desires.

In a different situation, Hamlet's madness can be viewed as feigned. An example is Hamlet's conversation with Polonius. Hamlet states, "Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here/ that old men have gray beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber and/ plum-tree gum" (2.2, 197-200) Hamlet fakes his madness clearly here by using the book's descriptions to indirectly insult Polonius's appearance. Clearly, Hamlet shows through his clever insults towards Polonius, that he has not lost his clear judgment nor is he truly mad. Another example of Hamlet's feigned madness is his interaction with the ghost of his father while his mother, Gertrude is present. Gertrude is bewildered and is puzzled of Hamlet's actions because she cannot see the ghost, tells Hamlet, "No, nothing but ourselves...this the very coinage of your brain./ This bodiless creation ecstasy/ Is very cunning in..." (3.4, 134-139). Gertrude assumes her son Hamlet has gone mad, because she sees him talking to no one. She thinks he is talking to himself. Readers know Hamlet has not gone mad because they see that he is speaking to the ghost of his father.

Through Hamlet's sudden madness he is judged by many. After Ophelia tells her father, Polonius of Hamlet's madness, Polonius directly goes to speak to King Claudius and tells him he is certain he knows the reason why Hamlet's gone mad. Gertrude responds, "I doubt it no other but the main,/ His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage" (56-57). As Hamlet's mother, Gertrude finds only two certain reasons on why her son has not been acting himself. She believes Hamlet must still be mourning

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