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... An additional example that proves Hamlets sanity is when he has the conversation
with his mother, Queen Gertrude, immediately following the play that Hamlet ...
Hamlets Insanity 2. ... of Hamlet’s insanity but one should also take into consideration
the amount of proven psychopaths who constantly admit to their sanity. ...
Hamlets Insanity. Hamlet’s Insanity…is it real? In William Shakespeare’s Play Hamlet,
many issues have been raised about Hamlet’s over all sanity. ...
... Hamlets sets in motion his insane behavior. ... There is great variance between
insanity and sanity. Often it is hard to distinguish. ...
... Hamlet is in a situation where his sanity is turning into insanity. ... In this play,
the way others interpret Hamlets behavior is that he is insane. ...
Submitted by colbyg on July 22, 2006
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Hamlet's Sanity
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 immediately
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...
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