Dead for a ducat, dead!" (III.IV). At this point it becomes really hard to tell if Hamlet is really insane because he kills without examining who was hiding behind the curtains, but only assumed that it was Claudius. Furthermore when he says "Dead for a ducat" he is betting that the person he attacked was dead and people that are sane don't bet on others life. Another instance where Hamlet may have been mad was when he followed the ghost, but his friends try to stop him but he responds with "Still am I called.
When Hamlet first meets the ghost, he immediately calls the ghost by his father’s name and follows it to where the ghost beckons him. In response to the ghost’s claim that "the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown," Hamlet answers, " O my prophetic soul!" (1.5.46-48), revealing that Hamlet has already contemplated this possibility. The ghost does little to persuade Hamlet of the cause of his father’s death because Hamlet is already convinced of his uncle/step-father’s guilt due to his great distrust and dislike for Claudius. Although at first, Hamlet reacts with an... ... middle of paper ... ...d by his disbelief in the ghost of his father, his belief in religion, and his education, it still brings about his untimely demise.
After this meeting, the Prince pretends to be insane to see if the ghost is telling the truth. You can understand why Hamlet would act insane because of these terrible events taking place. Initially, Hamlet’s plan is to act insane to find out exactly what happened to his father but he wants to also avenge his death. This state of mind allows Hamlet to behave in almost anyway and not be questioned about his behaviour. Hamlet knows that having the correct facts is so important because without hard evidence he may unjustly kill his uncle and have to d... ... middle of paper ... ...set with Hamlet for murdering his father, Polonius, and conspires with King Claudius against Hamlet.
The death of his father and loss of contact with his lover begin driving him to insanity. We can say with some certainty that the ghost is real on its visit to Hamlet because others witness it, but after the death of Polonius, Hamlet is its only witness. By this point Hamlet must surely be insane. He has been brooding for so l... ... middle of paper ... ...he end of Act III). Although not every one of them might have come to killing Claudius, Hamlet seems not to do anything.
He appears to vary in how mad he is, sometimes appearing completely sane, and sometimes more insane. His madness is mostly portrayed through his ramblings at the other characters, or through soliloquies. Originally Hamlet was only feining madness in order to reach his goals and discover if Claudius was really the one who killed father. He decides this after meeting the ghost of his dead father: “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on-...”(Hamlet: 1.5.171-172).The other characters pick up on his “madness” as the play progresses further. They were all curious as to the cause of Hamlet’s madness.
Gertrude believes that Hamlet’s cruel rejection of Ophelia was triggered by the death of his father. But it is also thought that he may be losing his mind because he wants to accept the Ghost is real. (Rosenberg, Justice in
As a result, the ghost is a symbol that reflects the revenge of Hamlet’s father. His first appearance leads audiences to come into the tragedy and something would be happening in Demark. It’s a caution. As hamlet realizes the truth from the ghost, he feels angry and decides to avenge his father’s death. However, even though hamlet decides to kill Claudius, but he apparently doesn’t get ready for the murder, so the ghost appears again to remind Hamlet what the real work is.
Throughout the novel, William Shakespeare takes his readers through many twists and turns and several of the characters exhibit odd or unnatural behavior, most noticeably Hamlet. However, it leaves readers questioning whether Hamlet’s “antic disposition” is genuine or if it is fabricated. Many may argue that Hamlet is truly mad since it eventually results in his downfall, but there are several reasons suggesting that Hamlet’s madness is feigned. While he appears to be a lunatic on the outside, Hamlet is sane, as seen through his ability to investigate his father’s murder, gain new information, plot against other characters in the novel, and discover the truth. From the beginning of the novel, Hamlet puts others under the impression that sadness has overcome his personality.
In the next act, Hamlet’s intentions suddenly become confusing. In the first act, Hamlet was dedicated and inspired in seeking revenge. However, when Hamlet appears again in the second act, he loses the conviction that was present earlier. He has yet to take up the orders assigned to him by the ghost. He spends the act walking around, reading, and talking with Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenst... ... middle of paper ... ...ave loved her, but he did not.
/ Till then sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise, / Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes" (I.iii.255-259). Hamlet already believes that Gertrude has committed a "foul deed" in marrying Claudius and the ghost's appearance supports Hamlet's anger. At the time, Hamlet does not know of his father's murder, but he suspects there may be more behind the ghost's appearance... ... middle of paper ... ... revenge and kill Claudius. Before, the ghost was the only proof Hamlet had of his father's murder and he needed its assurance in order to act out his revenge.