The Insanity Of Hamlet In William Shakespeare's Play

Known as one of the most complex plays to have ever been written, the tragic story of a troubled prince named Hamlet is a classic. A story that has entertained readers and playgoers for multiple generations since the 1600s. The play tells a story of a 30-year-old prince who loses his father in the hands of his uncle, finds out because of the ghost of his father, and plots to kill his uncle. In the process, he kills innocent people, loses his mother, his lover, and his own life. For generations, the play has been performed with multiple interpretations and one topic that has never had a clear cut interpretation was whether Hamlet was faking his madness or whether it was real.
Personally, I believe that Hamlet’s madness is feigned. Throughout the play, his insanity never shows when he is interacting with Horatio. He is definitely …show more content…
“The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.”(Act 1, Scene 2) At this time he doesn’t show any signs of madness, only sorrow. “Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, that can denote me truly.”(Act 1, Scene 2) As the play progress, Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his late father. After telling Hamlet the truth about his death, the ghost then gives Hamlet the responsibility of avenging his death. “[r]evenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”(Act 1, Scene 5) Up till this point, there is no sign of Hamlet being truly insane except for the fact that he saw the ghost of his dead father. But then again his sanity is evident since Hamlet is extremely hesitant to act on the words of this ghost. Hamlet believes what the ghost tells him“, It is an honest ghost let me tell you,”(Act 1, Scene 5) but he needs to be