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Sanity in the Midst of Corruption

Summary:   Over the years it has been debated whether or not Hamlet's actions were actually the result of his going insane, or an outright plot against the man who, not only killed his father, but also stole the throne and bride his father once held dear.

Shakespeare had a way of capturing his audience with tragic plays filled with controversy. One of the most controversial and well known of these plays is Hamlet. This is a play that depicts a son (Prince Hamlet) on an expedition to avenge his father's death. Throughout the entirety of the story, Shakespeare emphasizes the opinions that those surrounding Hamlet take on. The belief of those closest to him is that, with the death of his father, he has gone mad and does not know how to cope with the rest of the world. The interpretation that the audience has in analyzing Hamlet, the play, is often defined by the impression he has in watching Hamlet's actions, as a spectator. Over the years it has been debated whether or not Hamlet's actions were actually the result of his going insane, or an outright plot against the man who, not only killed his father, but also stole the throne and bride his father once held dear. This man was his uncle Claudius! In order to take a correct position on this topic, it is important to understand the definition of insanity. As defined by Encarta Dictionary: English (North America), an online dictionary, insanity is a "lack of reason or good sense." Hamlet's actions do not coincide with this definition and, in essence, make him a sound man of reason. Prince Hamlet's actions have to do with a depression problem in which he feigns madness in order to make his actions appear innocent. Every move that he makes is a well thought out and well delivered thrust at uncovering Claudius' treasonous crime. What Hamlet, unintentionally, accomplishes is the restoration of order to a society that got itself caught up in the "catch-22" of chaos.

Being perceived as a madman in the Elizabethan age was indeed a laughing matter for all but the sufferer. For the majority of those found insane it meant that life as they knew it was over. In most instances a madman was sent to some place where the public could go and gawk and laugh at him. Being the Prince of Denmark, even though he was perceived as insane, Hamlet was not sent away. He had special treatment. His mother loved him dearly and was not willing to let her child leave her. If they would have decided to try to send Hamlet away, he would have gotten out of it. He devised a plan in which he was in control. If he wanted people to believe he was insane, they did. If he wanted people to know that he was not insane, he could easily change their minds. After all, "A part of Hamlet's agony results from the very fact that he has a keen and alert mind that sees the implication of any potential action" (Wright and LaMar,page 65). This insight shows that there was a just cause to each contradictory statement spoken by Hamlet. "I did love you... I loved you not... Get thee to a nunnery," (Shakespeare Act 3 scene 1). Although Hamlet does indeed contradict himself in these few lines, he has a valid reason and positive intention. In these few short moments Hamlet has justified his so called madness and foreshadowed what is yet to come. This is his single attempt to get Ophelia to forget about him, to make her believe that no man has good intent with women and that it would be better for her to become a nun. Shakespeare has shown the reader that there is a reason for every action, just as in Einstein's theory, that for every action there is a reaction. Hamlet is not mad or insane, just depressed and misunderstood. Hamlet takes great effort in coming up with conclusions to his problems, even though people do not always listen to what he has to say. If Ophelia would have gone away to a nunnery she would have saved herself from the troubles that were to be encountered within the remainder of the play. By trying to save Ophelia Hamlet shows the audience that he is in the right state of mind and is well aware of what he will do next and why he will do it. 1

As friends and family members come to see Hamlet as crazy, there are still a few people who see Hamlet as a sane man. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The Players and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally. This is no coincidence. Hamlet trusts Horatio enough to tell him of his plans and to include him in them. Bernardo and Francisco are also trustworthy friends. The players are a crucial part of catching Claudius without warning, and the gravediggers are of no significance to make them believe anything, one way or the other; they're just simply there. Talking about the play that will be taking place later that night, including a scene that depicts a death much like that of the death of King Hamlet, Prince Hamlet tells Horatio, "Observe my uncle." (Shakespeare Act 3 scene 2). These three little words tell a lot. The fact that Hamlet disclosed everything to Horatio shows that Hamlet was in the right state of mind and knew how to get the right reaction out of his uncle. Hamlet was hoping for a drastic response from the new king and hoped that Horatio would see it as a witness as well. The reaction hoped for is the reaction received. In act 3 scene 2 when the king hears what the play is about, he becomes alarmed saying, "Give me some light. Away." (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 2). Hamlet and Horatio continue to discuss how the plan worked and how they now know for certain of Claudius' guilt. As a dear friend Horatio knew that Hamlet was having problems, but they were not those of an insane man. In Theodore Lidz's book, Hamlet's Enemy: Madness and Myth in Hamlet, Lidz gives insight on Freud's position of Hamlet's "illness," depression. "As Freud pointed out in his essay, the symptoms of mourning and of melancholia are very similar, but we do not regard mourning 'as a morbid condition and hand the mourner over to medical treatment.'" (Lidz page 197). Hamlet may be acting somewhat out of character, but Horatio knows his actions are the actions of a son who dearly misses his father and has become depressed. Hamlet loves his father, even after his death, and will do what he believes it takes to but his father to rest in peace.

Another piece of evidence showing that Hamlet's madness is not real is presented by Polonius. Polonius originally thought Hamlet's madness was because of his love for Ophelia. He later shows that they may be wrong about his madness after all. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord"" (Shakespeare Act 2 scene 2). Polonius is saying that Hamlet does seem to be somewhat mad, but at the same time he doesn't because there seems to be a scheme to it. Referring back to the definition of insanity, if a person is insane they have lack of reason and good sense, so indeed, if Hamlet were truly mad, he would not be able to create a schematic plan. In some ways Hamlet could be seen in the same light as a good politician. "The happy politician is one who, unhampered by a philosophic mind, can respond automatically in accordance with the required conventions of behavior." (Wright and LaMar page 65). Hamlet does this. With each thing that he faces, he is able to deal with it on the spot. As soon as another piece to the puzzle-without-a-picture is discovered, Hamlet finds the other connecting pieces and fills in the missing image. He is ready and willing to do all it takes to give Claudius what he deserves, and he understands that the process is one that will take some time to finish, if done correctly.

As Hamlet's plan progresses, he comes to a time where he must face his mother. He is sickened at her actions in marrying his uncle and has to let her know how he really feels about the situation. In Act 3 scene 4 Hamlet enters his mother's room. He yells at her and lets her know of his disgust. Frightened, Queen Gertrude yells out for help. At this there is yet another voice heard from behind the curtain. Hamlet immediately stabs the person behind the curtain, thinking it was Claudius. The person who lay dead on the floor was not Claudius at all, it was Polonius. This scene begins the restoration of corruption. When Laertes hears of his father's murder, he is, much like Hamlet, quick at revenge. Laertes and Hamlet face one another in a duel set up by King Claudius. Laertes' sword was poisoned so that with the smallest cut Hamlet would be killed. In case he was unharmed, the celebration drink was also poisoned for Hamlet. In the duel Hamlet looks as though he will win. The Queen, unknowing of the plot, drinks the poisoned drink. In her death Hamlet's attention is directed toward her and Laertes cuts him. When Hamlet realizes what has happened he in turn stabs Laertes and makes the King also drink the poisoned drink. The play ends with all those who took part in the distortion dead. The only man left standing is Horatio. Restoration has been completed. (Shakespeare Act 5 scene2).

The view of Hamlet as a sane, depressed man, provides the reader with an interpretation of the play as vengeance driven. Hamlet's actions were solely motivated by hatred and pay-back. Hamlet could have ended the life of Claudius back in Act 3, but he chose not to because Claudius was in prayer and would have gone to heaven. By attempting to choose the afterlife of someone (trying to play God) Hamlet has also chosen his own afterlife, Hell. All of the characters died without being able to reconcile their sins, and according to Hamlet in Act 3 scene 3, this is cause to live eternity in the pits of Hell.

Madness? Indeed there was much madness is this play. Claudius was mad at Hamlet for finding him out. Laertes was mad at Hamlet for killing his father. Ophelia literally went mad and insane also at the death of her father. As for Hamlet, he was indeed mad. He was mad at Claudius for taking away his best friend, his father, King Hamlet. He was mad, not insane. The depression of a young adult, who lost his father, ate away his soul, leaving him with no option. Combined with advice from the ghost of his father, and his own hatred for his uncle, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, went on a mission to gain back the throne that was rightfully his. In doing this he was also murdered, leaving Denmark in a state of contentment. The country is now able to take on a clean slate and begin its life without hindrance. Without Hamlet's scheme, the country would have remained corrupt. Hamlet unintentionally put the country back in order through his anger (madness), depression and death.