How Does Shakespeare Present The Theme Of Insanity In Hamlet

Shakespeare’s enduring play Hamlet (1601) examines the concept of mortality through the introspective protagonist of Hamlet. The play explores how verisimilitude and deception are used by characters, as a result of death like in Hamlet, or ends in fatality, such as with Claudius. Hamlet uses an ‘antic disposition’ to convince people he has gone mad and this is shown all throughout the play in different instances. Hamlet is not completely sane or completely insane; his actions show a mixture of both. The metatheatre in Act 3, Scene 2 is used as a guise by Hamlet to determine Claudius’ innocence or guilt but leads him onto more procrastination. Most of the characters’ deceptions come into light in the last scene of the play, especially those

Hamlet’s façade of madness hides his melancholy and allows him to reveal lies that are being told, especially the ones being told by Claudius. Hamlet rarely reveals what he is truly feeling to other characters, especially since he hasn’t come to terms with his father’s death and is hesitant to avenge him. In Act 1, Scene 3 he says “I have that within which passeth show,” to Gertrude, expressing that he has more grief than what he shows on the outside. He uses sophisticated language which reflects his higher status through his education. Hamlet puts on an ‘antic disposition’ to deceive the king and the court into thinking he has gone mad. Some of his actions do not align with his humanist values and his university education, such as stabbing Polonius through the tapestry in Act 3, Scene 4. He does this somewhat erratically rather than using his intellect like usual, showing he has somewhat become insane. His melancholic nature subjects him to more emotional suffering which makes him more susceptible to going mad like he partially does. “Hamlet is a man of painful sensitivity,” according to F Richmond, showing Hamlet’s nature to being

Claudius’ character is reflective of the Divine Right of Kings, and therefore an alliance with God is what motivates him to take the throne. However, he knows he has sinned and realises Heaven cannot be deceived and one day he must confront what he has done. “What form of prayer/ can serve my turn?” Claudius’ guilt starts to overcome his joy of becoming king and he is despaired at the thought of failing to achieve salvation. But after he realises there is no hope for God’s forgiveness, his ambition and desire get the best of him and he loses his chance to change for the better. Hamlet is not aware that Claudius feels any guilt and in Act 1 Scene 5 he states, “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.” This shows how effective Claudius’ façade is as he shows no signs of guilt until he is alone. In Act 3, Scene 1, Polonius says to Claudius, “be you and I behind an arras,” a metaphor for how Claudius constantly is hiding behind something that won’t reveal his deceitfulness, and how Polonius will go along with anything he does. Claudius’ deceit is revealed by Laertes in the final scene, “the king, the king’s to blame,” which ultimately leads to Hamlet finally murdering him. Claudius is a paragon of the Divine Right of Kings which influences him to lie to people to maintain his royal status and his connection to