Did Hamlet Go Crazy

Was he or was he not insane? That is the question many scholars ask today about Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: Did Hamlet go insane? An article that helped me develop my thesis stated: “The diminished capacity plea is based in the belief that certain people, because of mental impairment or disease, are simply incapable of reaching the mental state required to commit a particular crime. In the example of murder and manslaughter, a diminished capacity defense contends that a certain defendant is incapable of intending to cause a death, and therefore must have at most caused such a death recklessly. Thus, a successful plea of diminished capacity in a murder trial would likely result in the charge being reduced to …show more content…
For a young, rich prince who has probably never dealt with a tragic loss such as this, immediately succumbs to grief and is consumed by it. Shortly after the burial of his father, he comes face to face with his ghost and this will soon lead to the first event that showed Hamlet’s indecisiveness. A quote from the play, spoken by Hamlet says, "Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds More relative than this. The play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (Gould 24). The fact that Hamlet already began doubting himself and his decision on whether or not to believe the ghost of his father shows that he is indeed sane, but may face indecisive issues. If Hamlet was insane, he would have not thought twice about the ghost trying to take advantage of him and believed him regardless of his orders; however, this was not the case and Hamlet logically thought out the possibility that this was his father. This shows how Hamlet’s father played a role in his indecisive personality and and caused him to hesitate in completing his …show more content…
It’s understandable that someone would be pissed about their mother betraying their father but there seems to be something deeper between Hamlet and his mother to cause him to be so indecisive. Scholars believe this to be sexual tension between the two called, the Oedipus complex. Long story short, it’s where children have sexual desires or feelings toward their parent of the opposite sex. So because of the strong feelings of love he feels towards his mom, his mom being with the man that killed his father would cause Hamlet to be even more furious with her. Now that the woman he loves most; has betrayed him, that he never thought would, has left him alone and indecisive. He’s stuck wondering if there’s anyone left worth trusting and just makes his decision to kill Claudius and just deal with the