The spirit taking the shape of Hamlet’s father does cause Hamlet’s madness in Act II. In Act II, all of Hamlet’s actions result from what his father tells him. His father’s apparition creates inner conflict within Hamlet as he battles his passion for revenge vs. his inability to take action immediately. This causes Hamlet to doubt himself and overthink every single step in achieving vengeance. Moreover, Hamlet begins to actually become crazy, not just as pretend because he has conflict with himself. Hamlet’s internal conflict is presented in the Act II soliloquy as he goes back and forth between what his father tells him and what his “sovereignty of reason” tells him. At one point Hamlet questions, “Am I a coward?” (II.ii.598) and is appalled
