Hamlet #4

In the longest scene of this play, a foggy haze surrounds Hamlet’s sanity, as he claims to be mentally capable when the moment calls for it, but when presented with the evidence, the audience is forced to believe differently. From previous scenes, the audience is supposed to perceive Hamlet as a very intelligent, yet fragile character. Hamlet unceremoniously declares his immense sadness over his father’s death and even goes as far as to contemplate suicide. At first, the audience is not meant to view Hamlet as a mentally stable character, especially after his shaky encounter with the ghost. Regardless, this scene begs the question: is Hamlet truly insane?

When Polonious encounters Hamlet by himself in one of the main hallways, he interrogates Hamlet attempting to yank bits and pieces of information that prove his vile love for Ophelia and the growing madness inside him. At one point, Polonious merely asks for Hamlet to step outside, to which Hamlet replies in a manner that forces Polonious to question his sanity: “How / pregnant his replies are. A happiness / that often madness hits on, which reason and / sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of”. Certainly Polonious is capable of deciphering a mad fool when one considers his experience in politics, but shortly after the conversation, Hamlet reassures the audience that his display was merely an act saying, “I am but mad north-north-west. When the / wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw”. Hamlet claims that he is capable of displaying his madness and insanity only in certain occasions, defending himself against any accusations that provoke his alleged insanity. On a deeper look, Hamlet’s ability to observe his surroundings and make acute judgments suggest he is mentally capable most of the time. In the end, due to this play’s inherently tragic nature, the haze surrouding Hamlet’s mental abilities will thin out and become crystal clear; the question is when that immediate transition will occur.