Antic Disposition of Hamlet Essay Sample

To begin, there are several instances in which Hamlet asserts that he is not insane but is only behaving as if he were. After speaking with the ghost, Hamlet states: "As I may consider fitting in the future, To put on an antic disposition" (1.5. 179-180). This phrase is critical because Hamlet admits that he would now undergo an "antic deposition." When his friends see him, he will seem insane but will be faking. The antics are part of Hamlet's cunning strategy to ascertain if Claudius murdered his father and get retribution. Hamlet is astute, since for someone who has just lost his father, behaving insane or a little "odd" will seem normal, and no one will suspect he is plotting revenge on the king. Another significant phrase is when he says to Gertrude, "I am fundamentally not insane, but crazy in craft" (3.4.189-190). Hamlet is explaining to his mother that he is feigning madness but is not insane. Many individuals would assert that persons who are insane will continuously assure others that they are not insane. If this is the case, individuals who are not insane will tell others they are, which is incorrect. He also instructs Gertrude not to inform King Claudius, since this would negate the purpose of his whole antic disposition act. Hamlet is feigning insanity, but when the dust settles, he realizes what is right and what is happening. "I am only insane north-north-west," he informs Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. When the wind is blowing south, I can tell a hawk from a handsaw" (2.2 368-369). When Hamlet resolves not to murder King Claudius while praying, he demonstrates that he is not insane and is capable of logical action and thought. While one could argue that just because someone is insane does not mean they cannot think rationally, Hamlet murdered Polonius in a fit of madness, and since his madness is a result of Claudius murdering his father, the same madness would take over Hamlet and cause him to murder Claudius whenever the opportunity presented itself. There was no better time to assassinate King Claudius than when he was on his knees, praying vulnerably. He was completely unaware that Hamlet was standing behind him, sword drawn. This demonstrates that Hamlet is sane due to his capacity to make sensible judgments fast and without self-doubt. He has complete control over his mental and bodily states.

While it is true that Hamlet only wears the mask of insanity in front of select individuals, even they feel that his madness is not random but has a reason: "Though it lacked shape a little, was not like lunacy" (3.1. 163-165). It seems as if Hamlet's antic temperament works wonderfully since he convinces King Claudius that his remarks are insane; nonetheless, they have a rationale. Additionally, Polonius states, "Though this is crazy, there is logic isn’t" (2.2.203-204). This remark demonstrates that Hamlet is insane, yet there is a purpose for his lunacy, which there is. Recently, Hamlet's life has been marked by sad events one after the other. To begin, he learns that his father has died, and then the ghost informs him that it was Hamlet's Uncle Claudius who murdered him. To add insult to injury, his mother has married his Uncle Claudius, the murderer and king. Not only that, he quits his girlfriend and claims not to love her, only to discover that she committed suicide in large part as a result of his actions. Hamlets' life has deteriorated from terrible to worse, and from awful to catastrophic. To say that I went insane in the aftermath of these heinous occurrences would be an understatement. When Hamlet learned of his father's death, he did what anybody in his circumstances would do. He adopts an antic demeanour in order to ascertain if Claudius murdered his father and plot his vengeance. On the other hand, when Laertes learned of his father's death, he instantly accused Claudius and approached him without hesitation. He behaved irrationally by facing the king without hesitation, despite the fact that he had the support of a mob: "I thank you, hold the door" (4.5. 114), while Hamlet acted logically and had a plan in place; yet, this does not make you insane. Hamlet, like Laertes, is just responding to his father's death.

While the debate will always rage over whether Hamlet is insane or not, there is no disputing Ophelia's insanity. Both of them have experienced catastrophic incidents in their lives. Ophelia is told by her father to keep away from Hamlet; she is subsequently spurned by Hamlet, duped into giving up her virginity, and worst of all, her father is murdered by her erstwhile lover. Ophelia begins singing about her father's death, Hamlet's deception, and all the world's tricks. To be singing after your father's death is a strong indication that something is wrong with you: "A document in crazy" (4.5. 175-176). Hamlet does not entirely lose it upon his father's death; he maintains his composure and remains focused on his mission. Additionally, Hamlet discusses suicide often throughout the play: "To be or not to be, that is the question" (3.1. 156). Ophelia, on the other hand, commits herself and is not given a traditional Christian burial: "Her death was doubtful" (5.1. 211). It is terrible to ponder and speak about suicide continually, but to commit suicide indicates that you are mad. Tragic events occur in both of their lives, but Ophelia could no longer bear it, as if the forest of insanity had always been there, waiting for someone to ignite it. Hamlet has other causes as well, but regardless of how bright the flame becomes, the wood of insanity does not exist.

In conclusion, Hamlet's sanity is called into doubt by the reactions of those around him as well as his own pretended insanity. Hamlet's words, actions, and responses from others are all left to us to interpret his lunacy according to our viewpoint, as written by William Shakespeare. A significant distinction exists between Hamlet’s false lunacy and Ophelia’s genuine madness. In a crazy world, it is sometimes necessary to behave insanely oneself to attain one's objectives, in this instance vengeance. He performed flawlessly, deceiving not just King Claudius, but also the whole audience with his antic demeanour.