Hamlet

In the story Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the sane Hamlet occasionally switches between the realms of sanity and insanity. When madness suits Hamlet 's purpose, he puts on an "antic disposition" (I.V.173). On the other hand, when sanity proves worthy, Hamlet goes back to being logical. Hamlet claims he is "mad north-north-west" (II.ii.376), meaning he is crazy sometimes and sane other times. Therefore, to achieve his short-term goals, Hamlet shifts between sanity and insanity, this ironically, slows his overarching goal of revenge. I don’t think he is insane he is just trying to reach his goals; which is sweet revenge. To begin, Hamlet shifts into the realm of insanity to achieve his short-term goals. Hamlet uses his insanity as a weapon, changing insanity into the form of words or action. So Hamlet is only insane towards his enemy; which is Claudius, but he had people on his side so he had to go against other people as well. Like when Hamlet attacked Ophelia, because she joined up with Claudius, with words: "are you honest" (III.i.104), "are you fair" (III.i.106). Hamlet "speaks daggers" (III.ii.387) to Gertrude, because she is an obstacle to Hamlet. Also, Hamlet kills Polonius so violently that Hamlet guarantees that Polonius is "dead, for a ducat, dead" (III.iv.25). Hamlet gravely harms both Ophelia and Gertrude with his words of insanity, while killing Polonius with his actions of insanity. All three people, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Polonius, are on Claudius’s side, and by killing Polonius, Hamlet is indirectly wounding Claudius. This is Hamlet 's short-term goal; to rid Claudius of allies. Besides using insanity to harm Claudius ' allies, the mere presence of Hamlet 's insanity troubles Claudius. Hamlet understands the potential of madness; madness blurs reality and covers the truth, therefore, causing confusion; which is successful for Hamlet because that is why he had done it to confuse him so he could get revenge without Claudius realizing it. But since Claudius didn’t realize this or catch on to this he sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out what "unknown afflicts [Hamlet] thus" (II.ii.17). Polonius tries to "find / where truth is hid" (II.ii.155-156). Gradually, Claudius gets more furious with Hamlet and knows that "madness in great ones must not unwatch 'd go" (III.i.90). Hamlet 's insanity causes Claudius to send people to uncover the mysteries of his insanity. Hamlet 's madness causes Claudius to get anger because he doesn’t understand on what is going on. Claudius ' confusion is Hamlet 's other short-term goal. Basically, Hamlet 's insanity helps him achieve his short-term goals of getting revenge on Claudius ' allies and confusing Claudius. On the other hand, Hamlet returns to sanity and uses it as a method of concentration. When Hamlet encounters the ghost, he tells it to "speak", because he is "bound to hear" (I.v.7). While speaking with the ghost, Hamlet cries for his "prophetic soul" (I.v.42). Hamlet is also focused when speaking and listening to Horatio. When Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost of Hamlet 's father, Hamlet asks Horatio to "let [him] hear" (I.ii.194). While sane, Hamlet 's thoughts are clear and he is focused on the topic. When meeting his father 's ghost, he pays full attention to it. When Hamlet speaks to Horatio about Hamlet 's father 's ghost, Hamlet listens and speaks with sanity. Hamlet also refers to his "prophetic soul" (I.v.42). Prophets are usually associated with clarity, thought, and knowledge. Since Hamlet describes himself to have a "prophetic soul" (I.v.42), it shows that his mind is very clear, unlike the mind of the insane. Hamlet 's short-term goal is to concentrate when necessary. When Hamlet is alone, his thoughts are very clear and they make sense. For example, Hamlet 's "to be or not to be" (III.i.57) speech is very clearly thought out. Hamlet 's thoughts are much more sophisticated than those of the insane. Hamlet 's second short-term goal is to philosophize. Through the return into sanity, Hamlet is able to accomplish both his short-term goals of concentration and philosophizing. However, due to the constant reversal between sanity and insanity, Hamlet 's revenge is slowed. Hamlet 's mind becomes twisted due to constant changes in personality, between sanity and insanity. Early in the play, Hamlet says that he will put on an "antic disposition" (I.v.173). However, in the last scene of the play, Hamlet tells Horatio that "in my heart there was a kind of fighting" (V.ii.4). At one point he says that he will fake insanity, while later, he says that there is fighting in his heart, which hints insanity; because of this Hamlet becomes indecisive. Hamlet 's inability to act causes his revenge to be slowed down because he is even confusing himself. Hamlet switches between the realms of sanity and insanity to achieve his short-term goals. He uses insanity against enemies and sanity as a method of concentration. However, the constant switch of sanity and insanity brings about a slow revenge. Also in the end of Hamlet switching of both insanity and being sane he gets his revenge and all comes to end; and he becomes himself.

Work Cited Page
Crowther, John, (Ed.). (2005). No Fear Hamlet. Retrieved January 10, 2013, from http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/

Cited: Page Crowther, John, (Ed.). (2005). No Fear Hamlet. Retrieved January 10, 2013, from http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/