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Intro/ Thesis

Since the publishing of Hamlet, scholars and students alike have been baffled by Hamlet's true state of mind. William Shakespeare wonderfully crafted a character that even today's smartest people can not fully understand. Throughout this presentation, each side to the argument of whether or not he was really crazy will be given, and you as the audience will decide for yourself if Hamlet feigned this sickness of the mind.

The intense mood swings

So why did I choose a topic like this?

Hamlet's Exchange with Horatio,His Mother, and Guildenstern

It is simple. I truly believe that this very issue is what propelled the story forward and is what keeps the audience guessing.

The first piece of evidence that this side of the argument likes to bring up is the talk Hamlet has with Horatio after speaking with the ghost of his father, King Hamlet.

Worse than a teenager going through the first stages of puberty, Hamlet has these intense random mood changes throughout the entirity of the play. This is the first thing that people will bring up if they truly believe Hamlet was mad.

  • "But come, / Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, / How strange or odd soe'r I bear myself / (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put put an antic disposition on), / That you, at such times seeing me, never shall note / That you know aught of me" (1.5.167-178).

The other exchange of words that proves Hamlet knew what was going on was what he said to his mother.

  • "Ecstasy? / My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time / And makes as healthful music. It is not madness / That I have uttered" (3.4.142-145).

The last exchange we where Hamlet admits against being crazy is when he is talking to Guildenstern and says that he is only "mad north-north-west" (2.2.364).

CONCLUSION

The Death of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Hamlet's Actions Compared to Ophelia's Lunacy

The next big point people bring up when trying to prove Hamlet was crazy is his old school "friends" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern being indirectly killed by Hamlet.

Another great point against Hamlet being really insane is the certain actions he takes compared to Ophelia's actions towards the end of the play.

  • Hamlet's actions seem more planned out like he has more control over them. Ophelia's fit of craziness is spontaneous.
  • He ditches them and jumps aboard a pirate ship which is crazy in itself, but then he has them killed!

SIDE B:

Hamlet feigned his madness

Side A:

Hamlet was definitely crazy

In the end, Hamlet got the revenge that he sought from the very moment he learned the truth of his father's death. This revenge came with a cost though, and Hamlet was most affected by his "craziness." With Shakespeare creating such an in-depth character such as Hamlet, it will be a play discussed and analyzed for ages to come.

Fighting With Laertes in a Ophelia's Grave

Hamlets Behavior Towards Certain Characters

The last thing that people of this side argue and will want you to remember is that Hamlet fought Laertes in Ophelia's grave! Who does that? Only a madman! Whether it was out of passionate love or confusion either way he jumped inside of her grave and fought her brother.

The Lego Movie

My Theory

Hamlet's behavior seems well thought out and has a rhythm to it. He only acts mad around certain characters. Those characters being Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Anyone else like Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The players and the gravedigger he acts perfectly sane around.

  • He only acts crazy around the people that might foil his plans and acts sane around the people that he trusts like Horatio or needs help or answers from like the players or the gravedigger.

My theory is that Hamlet was not insane at all. His madness had a method to it and he just faked insanity to get what he wanted which was inevitable revenge. If anything, he had paranoia at certain times.

Another great way to desribe Hamlet is with the help of The Lego Movie! Just like the bad/good cop in the movie, Hamlet became good at showing certain sides to people to get what he wanted.

Real World Application

The most applicable scenario we see in today's society is in the courts. People break the law in many ways and plead insane.

  • Just imagine if Hamlet was on trial for all of his actions and plead insane...

Hamlet: Undeniably Insane or Cunningly Genius

Works Cited

THANK YOU!

Aaron, Jane E. Little Brown Compact Handbook with Exercises + Mycomplab with Pearson Etext Access Card. 8th ed. S.l.: Addison-Wesley, 2012. Print.

Blackmore, Simon. "The Real or Assumed Madness of Hamlet." TheatreHistory.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

No Fear Shakespeare: Hamlet. New York: SparkNotes, 2003. Print.

"The Lego Movie Interrogation Scene 1080P HD." YouTube. N.p., 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

By Joseph Maberry

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