Hamlet tells his friends that he will pretend to be mad. His act is extremely convincing, though. Is it really an act, or does Hamlet slip into madness during the play?
Personally, I believe the question of Hamlet's madness is one of the most crucial ones in the entire play. After all, his plan for revenge hinges on the court's (including his uncle/dad/king) belief in his insanity; this way, he can sneak around the palace without drawing attention to himself. However, I don't think the question of whether or not Hamlet was actually insane can be answered with a simple yes or no. Rather, I believe that Hamlet gradually lets insanity take over himself over the course of the play. More so, it's maybe more impaired judgment and paranoia than anything else.
It's pretty obvious that Hamlet begins the play as a sane person, although he is a bit of an angsty man-child. As he wanders around the castle dressed in black, "with vailed lids, [seeking] for [his] noble father in the dust" (I.ii.70-71), he seems depressed by his father's recent death and mother's quick marriage but not necessarily insane. However, King Hamlet's ghostly reappearance triggers a mental change in Hamlet. Even at first sight of the ghost, Hamlet seems to lose his judgment, threatening his friends by claiming that he'll "make a ghost of him that" stops him from speaking with his father (I.iv.90).
Initially, Hamlet claims that he'll act insane to provide a cover for his investigations and actions, as he might have to turn to murder to avenge his father's death. In fact, he even tells Horatio that he is going to "feign madness" (I.v.166-180). At the beginning, at least, Hamlet believes that he is in total control of himself and thinks that he is making the choice to act crazy in order to protect himself. In addition, Hamlet initially seems able to control who he acts insane around, since he talks nonsense around Polonius yet converses normally with Horatio. Even while pretending to be insane, Hamlet's exchange with Polonius contains several subtle jabs at the adviser, and even Polonius admits that "though this be madness, yet there is method in't" (II.ii.195-196).
Throughout the play, though, Hamlet slips several times and seems to fall into actual insanity. His feelings towards Ophelia, for example, change erratically over the course of the play. Despite his early passion towards her, for instance, he criticizes her later, telling her to "get thee to a nunnery" and that her "power of beauty will sooner transform honestly from what it is to a bawd" (III.i.113-126). On one hand, it would make sense that he would try to distance her from his revenge plot, but Hamlet does go to strange lengths to alienate her. As he continues to berate her, it seems like he is letting his passion and emotions overcome him rather than paying attention to common sense and her feelings. In addition, he has several violent outbursts throughout the play, as he verbally attacks his mother and kills Polonius by stabbing him through a curtain. The fact that Hamlet would go and literally murder someone without even thinking about it seems to signal a deterioration of his sanity. Near the end, Hamlet loses sight of reality even more, speaking to a skull and leaving the throne to Fortinbras, which, to me, seems like an incredibly strange thing to do, especially since his father and Fortinbras's father were enemies.
Therefore, I believe that it's difficult to label Hamlet as just sane or insane. Rather, Hamlet, for me, seems like a typical man who is overcome by the stress and danger of his situation, damaging his judgment and mind.
It's pretty obvious that Hamlet begins the play as a sane person, although he is a bit of an angsty man-child. As he wanders around the castle dressed in black, "with vailed lids, [seeking] for [his] noble father in the dust" (I.ii.70-71), he seems depressed by his father's recent death and mother's quick marriage but not necessarily insane. However, King Hamlet's ghostly reappearance triggers a mental change in Hamlet. Even at first sight of the ghost, Hamlet seems to lose his judgment, threatening his friends by claiming that he'll "make a ghost of him that" stops him from speaking with his father (I.iv.90).
Initially, Hamlet claims that he'll act insane to provide a cover for his investigations and actions, as he might have to turn to murder to avenge his father's death. In fact, he even tells Horatio that he is going to "feign madness" (I.v.166-180). At the beginning, at least, Hamlet believes that he is in total control of himself and thinks that he is making the choice to act crazy in order to protect himself. In addition, Hamlet initially seems able to control who he acts insane around, since he talks nonsense around Polonius yet converses normally with Horatio. Even while pretending to be insane, Hamlet's exchange with Polonius contains several subtle jabs at the adviser, and even Polonius admits that "though this be madness, yet there is method in't" (II.ii.195-196).
Throughout the play, though, Hamlet slips several times and seems to fall into actual insanity. His feelings towards Ophelia, for example, change erratically over the course of the play. Despite his early passion towards her, for instance, he criticizes her later, telling her to "get thee to a nunnery" and that her "power of beauty will sooner transform honestly from what it is to a bawd" (III.i.113-126). On one hand, it would make sense that he would try to distance her from his revenge plot, but Hamlet does go to strange lengths to alienate her. As he continues to berate her, it seems like he is letting his passion and emotions overcome him rather than paying attention to common sense and her feelings. In addition, he has several violent outbursts throughout the play, as he verbally attacks his mother and kills Polonius by stabbing him through a curtain. The fact that Hamlet would go and literally murder someone without even thinking about it seems to signal a deterioration of his sanity. Near the end, Hamlet loses sight of reality even more, speaking to a skull and leaving the throne to Fortinbras, which, to me, seems like an incredibly strange thing to do, especially since his father and Fortinbras's father were enemies.
Therefore, I believe that it's difficult to label Hamlet as just sane or insane. Rather, Hamlet, for me, seems like a typical man who is overcome by the stress and danger of his situation, damaging his judgment and mind.