Me and a Madman: Hamlet Feigns Maddness

Me and a Madman
In the Diary of a Genius, Salvador Dali remarked, “there is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not mad" This statement brings up the essence of what qualifies an individual as mad. Madness is a condition prescribed by society, a label attributed to an individual from an outside perspective. An individual can never truly be diagnosed as mad. Madness, insanity, is a completely mental condition and because there is no way to fully follow, understand, or know how that individual is thinking and what he knows; madness can only ever be an ignorant assumption, based on a permanently naïve perspective. Human interaction is riddled with character assumptions like this. As members of society we each make definitions of each other based on what we, individually, see rather than attempting to gain the perspective of the person we are defining. In literature there are many examples of this human tendency. One of the more controversial examples comes about in the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. Hamlet purposefully feigns madness, yet, it is often argued that despite his act, he was in actuality truly mad; however when Hamlet’s perspective on the events and innate human reaction are taken into account it is evident that Hamlets actions never lose logic and forethought.
Hamlet demonstrates intelligence and consideration from the very beginning scenes when he finds out the truth and creates his plan. Through early interactions with Horatio Shakespeare takes the audience into Hamlets mind. Before Hamlet initially talks with the ghost Horatio calls out to Hamlet worried of what was to come as Hamlet followed the ghost, afraid the ghost could some how, “assume some other horrible form, / Which might deprive [Hamlet his] sovereignty of reason / And draw [Hamlet] into madness? (Act 1. Scene 4. Line 80)” This worry of Horatio gives Hamlet the idea of put on an act. Hamlet is a very intelligent character so after hearing what Horatio could see as a human reaction to the turmoil Hamlet has recently been enduring he decides to put on the act. Right after talking with the ghost Hamlet does just this, warning Horatio, “How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself / (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an antic disposition on), (Act 1. Scene 5. Line 190.)” Hamlets plan to act mad is obvious here, the idea is demonstrated as well in Horatio’s worry. There is little dispute in the fact that Hamlet himself is acting mad, but it is argued that his act of madness is only covering true insanity. It is likely that Hamlet is suffering from great emotional turmoil , this however this does not deem him mad. To come up with such a clever plan, he clearly is still in possession of his great intellect and logic. Hamlets interactions with the players also comes to demonstrate that he is in fact not mad at all, just very talented as an actor. Based on the advice he gives the players, “ …in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. Oh, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags…(Act 3. Scene 2. Line 6)” This advice demonstrates Hamlets vast knowledge of acting and plays in general. He is giving acting advice to a player, a professional. Hamlet was also able to recite a monologue he had heard once before with near perfect accuracy; only further demonstrating his acting expertise. This acting expertise defends his sanity because proves that he could act “mad” so convincingly that everyone would believe him, even Shakespeare’s audience in some cases. Logically speaking, it is much more plausible that a sane man could play an insane one, than an insane man could play a sane one, and so reason would deem Hamlet sensible. In addition to showing his acting capabilities Hamlets interactions with the players are also very calm and logical, aiding to show he is not truly mad. Hamlet seldom acts mad or out of control around Horatio, the players or other characters he is does not consider involved with Claudias, rather he acts logical, cunning, and controlled.
The flaccidity in Hamlets “mad” act becomes evident when his interactions with Claudias and other men he believes to be on Claudias’ side such as Polonius and even his old friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are reexamined. Hamlet would feel the need to put on an act around Claudias for obvious reasons; Claudias killed Hamlet’s father and now Hamlet is plotting to kill Claudias so it is important the Claudias does not become suspicious of Hamlet at all. Seeing as Claudias has already killed his brother and proceeded to marry the same brothers wife it seems fair to believe Claudias would kill Hamlet if he found out, he has already proved to be a ruthless killer. When hatching is plan, Hamlet knew he would not be able to cover up all emotions so acting mad gave him a reason to act less than normal, saying uncouth things. He was looking to get a reaction out of Claudias during the play, in order to be certain the Claudias did indeed commit the murder. Hamlet did a very good job acting but towards the end of the play, in a conversation with Polonius when he decides to send Hamlet away to England to be killed even Claudias has realized that Hamlet is not mad, saying, “Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, / Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul / …Will be some danger—which for to prevent, / I have in quick determination / Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England / For the demand of our neglected tribute. (Act 3. Scene 1. Line 177)” He acknowledges that Hamlet sounds a bit crazy but also realizes that this does not make a person mad. Claudias also knows the whole truth so it is logical he would figure out the Hamlet was not truly mad, especially after the play. Claudias was not the only one that Hamlet had to be weary of, Polonius was Claudias’ closest advisor, and Ophelia’s father. Hamlet acts crazy around Polonius, acting as if he didn’t even know who Polonius was. Polonius recapped it to Claudias, as Hamlet knew he would, “He knew me not at first; he said I / was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone. (Act 2. Scene 2. Line 8)” Polonius was convinced Hamlet was love crazy, “far gone, far gone" but if this statement is looked at from Hamlets perspective he doesn’t seem the crazy, it seems he is having fun with the acting. "Fishmonger" is slang for "pimp" and because Hamlet knows Polonius is using Ophelia to get more information about him it seems very incidental that he would call Polonius a pimp, when Polonius is to so extent pimping out Ophelia. So, because that sort of coincidence does not just occur it is yet another occurrence proving that Hamlet is not insane. Later on in the very same scene Polonius catches on a bit, commenting to himself “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. (Act 2. Scene 2. Line 223)” Hamlet is acting mad but he is also cunning and that is hard for him to cover up, so his way with words begins to make even Polonius question his insanity. It was a little startling at first when Hamlet too acted mad with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, these two were his best friends from school. Hamlet seems to give them the idea the he is mad saying “For by my fay, I cannot reason. (Act 2. Scene 2. Line 282)” and " I am but mad north-north-west. (Act 2. Scene 2. Line 401)” These sentiments, “I cannot reason” and “I am but mad” would not reassure his friends of his mental state, and Hamlet is a smart enough character to know that, so he must be planting the idea in them on purpose. For he knows the they were called to come to him by his parents, he gets Guildenstern to admit to it, “My lord, we were sent for. (Act2. Scene 2. Line 315)” This shows that Hamlet was smart not to trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they are also working with Claudias just as Polonius is. Hamlet also understands that Claudias is a great orator and good with words and people so even in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern think they are on his side they likely could have ended up telling Claudias that Hamlet was not mad. It is clear why Hamlet needs to hide his plan from Claudias and to do that he must also put on his act around people under Claudias’ influence.
Hamlet’s interactions with Ophelia and Gertrude have more dimensions to them, they are going to tell Claudias, Hamlet knows this, nevertheless they are the most important people left in his life, yet he still must act mad with them, though he is noticeably more reluctant. Hamlet wants to stop Gertrude’s incestuous actions and get her to see the truth. As he tries to convince her of his story, they are in a very tense situations, it is right after Hamlet had killed Polonius, with a blind stab meant for Claudias. Hamlet explains, “Make you to ravel all this matter out: / That I essentially am not in madness / But mad in craft. Act 3. Scene 4 Line 208)” Hamlet knows his actions seem mad, and that to some extent everything that is going on is crazy but he is not mad. He is in an impossible situation with really no good outcome to see. Hamlet wants Gertrude to see that he is not crazy; he wants her on his side. Hamlet tries to reassure her, “My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time / And makes as healthful music. It is not madness / That I have uttered. Bring me to the test, / And I the matter will reword, which madness / Would gambol from. (Act 3. Scene 4. Line 161).” Hamlet is able to see that he has been acting mad, which in itself is convincing that he is not mad. A truly mad person could not recognize this behavior. With Ophelia he cannot be as open, he cannot tell her what is really happening because he only get to talk with her towards the beginning before any one has caught on to his act. He knows the Ophleia, still a young girl, is manipulated by her father and Claudias, he knows that she will tell them all that happens. Because of this he acts truly mad around her, she describes to Polonius, "Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle; Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors- he comes before me, (Act 2. Scene 1. Line 90)" Hamlet is upset about Ophelia, but also to some extent it seems that he needs support and wanted it from her. In Hamlets position he really has no one to turn to for talk with or vent to. For him to carry the burden of the truth that the ghost gave unto him, and the vengeful actions he is considering any person would need some support. He goes to Ophelia, he cannot speak with her, he looks into her eyes and it feels as though he is trying to communicate with her, without words. Hamlet also knows the to be a mad unrequited lover he must act well. He meets all the stereotypes and expectations of his role very well in this scene with Ophelia. His act is so good that it gives off the air it is not in fact genuine. He is playing a role so he does everything right. If he were truly heartbroken, he probably would not play to all the stereotypes so well.
Hamlet has all the reason in the world to be mad, he could be justifiably mad; a lose of logic and consideration yet he preserves it very well, and is able to create a very well thought out plan. He could be viewed as mad but only from a perspective that doesn’t account for his perception of himself.