Hamlet As A Fool In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Hamlet is a very smart man. He is not one to be taken as a fool. While Hamlet is planning vengeance on his uncle for the murder of his father, he had an idea to make people believe he was crazy even though he wasn’t. In 1.4 Hamlet comes up with an idea that is brilliant. While people are seeing him depressed and not himself, he decides to add some spice to the pot. After Hamlet is done meeting with his father’s spirit, he decides to act crazy. He is not insane, but he tells the guards that were with him, that he is going to be putting on a front. He is going to be acting crazy even though in fact he is not crazy. Hamlet also lets other people know that he is not crazy. In (2.2.342-43) Hamlet lets Guildenstern and Rosencrantz know that he knows when to act crazy and when to not. He tells them, “I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.” If someone was crazy, would they be able to distinguish what is in their mind vs. reality? No probably not. However, Hamlet knows what is real, and what is not real. He knows if someone is playing him or not. For example, in (3.3.313) Hamlet tells Guildenstern …show more content…
If he were truly crazy, would he have been able to decipher their means? No, he would have just thought that they were his friends, and he was able to tell them anything. Hamlet is smart, and he is very philosophical. According to Tenney L. Davis, who wrote “The Sanity of Hamlet,” agrees that Hamlet is not crazy, because of his mind set. Hamlet is one to think on things rather than just acting upon them. His mind keeps him within the bounds of reason. Davis agrees with this. He wrote, “Hamlet is constantly aware of his own mental processes.” If Hamlet is crazy, would he be aware of his own mental process? No, he would be crazy. He wouldn’t know the sky from the ocean. Hamlet knows what he is doing, and he does not lose his grip on reality. He just toys with others to make them think he