Was Hamlet really mad? What do you think?

Answer 1

Probably. Oh wait, he was FICTIONAL, so he wasn't REALLY anything.

Answer 2

I suppose you could play it either way, but I think that ACTUAL (as opposed to FEIGNED) madness is, by far, the weaker dramatic choice.

I think the best cue that Shakespeare gives us is in Polonius' line (Act 2, scene ii): "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." Even Polonius "gets" that Hamlet is behaving in a manner that SEEMS crazy...but that there's an underlying logic and design.

Hamlet knows that Claudius is guilty as sin, and Claudius knows that he knows. Hamlet's "mad" act enables him to deflect Claudius' suspicions just long enough to expose him (in the "mousetrap" sequence).

This is not to suggest, however, that there aren't things in the play that are TRULY shattering to Hamlet; there are. Seeing the ghost of a beloved father -- who comes back to reveal that he was murdered by his brother, Hamlet's uncle -- has got to be a little hard to handle. Then, he is betrayed -- or so he seems to believe -- by his girlfriend, Ophelia. And, finally, he learns, while on his sea voyage, that his uncle has ordered his execution. Those are the sorts of things that can absolutely wreck your day.

Answer 3

Hamlet goes through changes which is one of the reasons why it is, if not the greatest, one of the greatest plays in the English language. Nietzsche has a very insightful and succinct analysis in his THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY. Hamlet feigns madness to put his 'enemy' Claudius off guard, then he mistakes Polonius for Claudius behind the arrras and becomes persona non grata in Denmark. His main struggle is more an existential dilemma. Very hard to answer in this space.

Answer 4

I don't beleive so. Hamlet was extreamly creative and smart. We discussed this in my Theater class.

I believe that he was acting mad in order to get peoples guard down and be able to attacks without notices. If he was acting normal, Cludius would have continued to watch him more closely. But becouse he was "mad", be was no threat to the Kingdom.

There are two places where this becomes apperent, the play scene, and preping/sword fight scene. In both cases, a madman in that time would not have been capible of such acts.

I do believe he suffered a few episodes of greif and temperary emotional stress, such as in the graveyard or when he meets his father, but overall he was quite sane.

Hope this helps. This is my opinon of the story based on reading, seeing, and discussion in a theater class in college.

Answer 5

By mad, I assume you mean 'crazy'

i have seen productions where hamlet seems to go a little crazy by the end of the play,
and i have seen productions where he seems in control of his wits throughout.
which was Shakespeare's intent is hard to say. but I can tell you in my opinion, whenever Hamlet is portrayed as crazy, it is much less compelling

Answer 6

Hamlet was enraged and tortured. The father that he worshipped died, and his uncle and mother betrayed him by getting married. What's worse they made a show of it by partying all night long. He considered their marriage incest, and was disgusted by it. He was a lot more than mad. Or do you mean insane? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It can be hard to tell. Sometimes he is pretending to be insane to fool his Uncle. When he finds out that his father was murdered, that is the ultimate despair. I could go on forever on this subject, so the answer is yes, he was really really really anger, sad, upset, etc. etc. etc.

Answer 7

I think he was feigning madness when it suited his purposes (nunnery scene). And he was grieving. And he was furious. And he was betrayed by his mother, Ros & Guild, and his uncle. And he was trying to do what he felt he owed to his father (revenging his death by killing the king). But I don't think he was crazy.

The supreme court did a mock trial of Hamlet several years ago - you can get the transcript of it. His defense hinges on an insanity plea. Very interesting if you can find it.

Answer 8

The death of his father — the Great Hamlet — made him
mad. And his broken heart: the lost love... Ophelia.
First he played the fool,
to be save, but than he really turned nuts...

The best scene is when he kills "the rat"...
"... ooh I mistook You for a bigger one..."

Answer 9

Not insane, no; furious, yes, and eaten alive with bitterness, grief, and the desire for revenge. He is the perfect picture of what these emotions, unchecked, will do to a person. The greatness of Shakespeare: his immortal themes.

Answer 10

No. Well maybe for a while after his Father was killed but the point of the play is (i believe) is that he pretends to be mad while he defers the decision to kill his uncle. so the play is about procrastination and maybe how he could have done it sooner.

Answer 11

The poor lad was pushed into Madness and because of his status his friends could not advise. Email me and we can chat a length on this subject if you like, could talk and listen for hours on the subject. Check my 360 out