FREE ESSAY ON HAMLET'S MADDNESS

HAMLET'S MADDNESS

Hamlet appears to be insane, after Polonius's death, in act IV scene II. There are
indications, though, that persuade me to think other wise. Certainly, Hamlet has plenty
of reasons to be insane at this point. His day has been hectic-he finally determined
Claudius had killed his father, the chance to kill Claudius confronted him, he comes very
close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father, he accidentally kills
Polonius, and finally the ghost of his father visits him. These situations are enough to
bring Hamlet to insanity, but he remains sharp and credible.
Hamlet is able to make smart remarks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, comparing then to
sponges, When he (Claudius) needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and,
sponge, you shall be dry again, (pg 98, 20). This is random and unexpected, as many of
his actions, but the comparison makes sense; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern soak up all the
kings favors, only to become dry again after they mop up the King's mess (spying on
Hamlet, and getting Polonius's body). Later, with Claudius, Hamlet tells how lowly a king
can be by saying, A man (beggar) may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat
of the fish that hath fed of that worm, (pg 99, 29). This also makes sense, and is not
quite as random; when Hamlet confronts Claudius, and the king asks where Polonius is,
Hamlet immediatly begins the comparison by telling Claudius that Polonuis is at supper
(the worms are eating him for supper, and so on). This proves that Hamlet had some kind
of planning for this degrading comment, and that his thoughts are not scattered and he is
able to stay focused.
There is a question of what being insane really is. Since it is agreeable that Ophelia
was crazy, it's possible to use her as a guide to make this argument valid. Hamlet and
Ophelia both shared the trait of having calculated thoughts, Ophelia's singing and
Hamlet's verbal attacks. They also shared calmness before their deaths. But was Hamlet
spraying rude remarks to everyone before he died, as Ophelia had sung floating down the
river? No, in-fact Hamlet was the opposite of what he was before. If he were crazy, like
Ophelia, he would have remained hectic and random up until the time of (and after) the
duel. Hamlet, though, was not-he even reasoned what death for him was, finishing his
question of whether life was worth living for. Hamlet can truley be seen to be sane, and
not. The facts that Hamlet was smart and swift thinking, and in such a reversal of
emotions (from after Polonius died) in the end, leads strongly to the opinion that Hamlet
was not insane.