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Ambiguity In Hamlet

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Ambiguity In Hamlet
The character Hamlet is the central character of the play. All the actions of the play revolve around him and his behaviors. His apparent madness adds depth to his character, and makes the plot itself more interesting. To achieve this, William Shakespeare created some ambiguity and tension by raising a dilemma. Is Hamlet really insane? Or is he just pretending to be? At the beginning of the play, Hamlet states that “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on” (I.5.190-192). Hamlet states that he will pretend to be insane, in an effort to catch the attention of the entire court. Later in the play Hamlet tells his two best friends, (who now are spying on him by order of the King) that he is “but mad north-north-west:
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