Critics seem to be divided into deciding whether Hamlet is mad or not. Either he is really suffering from a mental disease or just pretending is a debated topic but it can be cited that Hamlet is a very sensitive and idealistic young boy before the play opens. His actions proved that Hamlet is not mad. He becomes rational with his best friend Horatio. He is loveable, solider and poet having high intellectual quality. In the words of Ophelia;
“The courtier’s, soldier, scholars, eye, tongue, sword,
The expectancy and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion, and the mold of form,
The observed of all observes”
The text clearly shows that Hamlet was once insane and has a strong sense. After his mother’s hasty marriage and the Ghost’s appearance, Hamlet’s become rude in behavior and harsh. These two inflicted situations lead to lunacy. “Deighton” added,
“In every single instance, in which Hamlet’s madness is manifested, he has good reason for assuming that madness; while on the other hand, whenever there was no need to hoodwink anyone, his thought, language, and action bear no resemblance to unsoundness of intellect.”
The first act vividly expressed that he disguised himself as mad in order to carry out and accomplish the task of avenging his father’s death skillfully.
“As parlance hereafter shall think to meet,
To put an antic disposition on…”
In act (3) scene (4) he confirms her (mother) that he is intentionally acting the part of madness in order to attain his object;
"I essentially am not in madness,
But mad in craft."
Polonius observes that “Though this be madness, yet there is a method in it.”
The fact that he has made it appear like real madness to many critics today only goes to show the wideness of his knowledge and the greatness of his dramatic skill. But these arguments are not enough to prove the insanity of Hamlet. Hamlet’s behavior towards his mother (Gertrude) and uncle (Claudius) prove his madness. He got many chances to kill his uncle but he did not do so. In (Act 3 scene 3) he draws his sword but is concerned that Claudius will go to heaven if killed while praying. This is another instance that proves the madness of Hamlet. Polonius soon admits that Hamlet's actions and words do not indicate madness but melancholy:
"What he speaks, though it lacked form a little.
Was not like madness."
There need be no doubt, then, that Hamlet's madness was really feigned. He saw much to be gained by it, and to this end, he did many things that the persons of the drama must construe as madness. If Hamlet were thought of as truly mad, then his entrances and his exits could convey no meaning to sane persons, except the lesson to avoid insanity. But it needs no drama to teach that.
