Hamlet....?

Question

is he crazy?

Answer 1

No
It's an act that he puts on to distract his uncle from his true purpose. At the start of the play the ghost of his father encourages him to avenge his death.

Answer 2

As with most questions that pertain to the behaviors of Shakespearean characters, there really isn't an answer...except in the context of production.

Each actor who takes on the role of Hamlet, in conjunction with the director of that production, has to decide whether Hamlet is stone-cold SANE, or absolutely BONKERS...or somewhere in-between. Certainly, there are enough "given circumstances" in the play itself (death/murder of Father, rapid re-marriage of Mother to Uncle, betrayal by girlfriend, murder plot against him engineered by Uncle/King, etc.) to justify playing him as (at least) slightly unbalanced.

But, on the other hand, LOGIC is one of the absolute defining characteristics of Hamlet's personality. Reason. Analysis. "Thinking too precisely on the event" is the very thing that KEEPS him from acting, even when he knows he should.

Reading the play should suggest all of these possibilities. When you actually SEE the thing performed, you'll know which of the options that actor and that director chose.

Answer 3

Further to the excellent answer by Shkspr, I would recommend the early 80's BBC version starring Derek Jacobi, and Patrick Stewart. Mr. Jacobi's Hamlet is at pains to tell his friends (and by extension us) that he is but made "in craft." But during his famous scene with Ophelia, when he says "it hath made me mad!" he makes the discovery right then that he is indeed mad. I've always thought this a rather elegant answer to the question. And Mr. J. pulls it off magnificently. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

I don't think he was at the beginning, but he got a little "too into character." He was using the insanity act to fool his uncle and everyone else at first, but then he got sucked into it and believed everything he was doing was real and right.

Answer 5

He wonders if he is, but mostly it's the act he puts on. In the play, his soliloquies open his emotional life to us, the audience, more than even his friends and beloved Ophelia.

Answer 6

That is one of the great debates in History

Answer 7

stark raving mad!
why? Contemplates suicide, sees his father's ghost everywhere, he kills people for no reason and out of paranoia, and he mumbles to himself. F'nuts if you ask me.

Answer 8

A little.