Horatio and some sentries see the ghost, but only Hamlet hears it speak

Horatio and some sentries see the ghost, but only Hamlet hears it speak

Horatio and some sentries see the ghost, but only Hamlet hears it speak. It raises the possibility that he might be going mad (Act 1, Scene V, p. 33). In Act 2, Scene II, Hamlet himself questions his sanity and posits that it might have been caused by the devil who takes advantage of such melancholy (p. ). Hamlet, however, says, plots, plans, and does things which tend to show he is not mad. Hamlet engages in normal behavior when in the company of friends but only acts crazy around people who are the main actors in his plot against King Claudius. The fact that Hamlet promises to act insane, requests his friends not to tell anyone about this ruse, makes elaborate plans to prove Claudius’ guilt, forges a letter against him, and does not kill Claudius when the chance presents itself, shows that he is not mad but planning to exact revenge against his father’s killer.

Hamlet promises to show acts of insanity. In Act 1 Hamlet tells Horatio and Marcellus that he planned to show displays of antic disposition, that is, he planned to act as if he had gone mad. He goes further by forcing them to swear not to tell anyone about his plans (Act 1, scene V, p. 33). A mad person cannot plan shows of madness. Further proof presents itself in Act 2, Scene II, where Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he is only mad when the wind blows in certain directions but not others. It shows that he is in charge of his senses and only acts mad when he sees fit (p. ). He is also quick to notice that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were sent to spy on him (Act 2, Scene II, p. 50). Hamlet plans his acts of madness and proves to his friends that he is not mad and requires them to keep his secret.

Plans and actions show that Hamlet is not mad. In Act III, when the actors come to perform for him, he directs them to stage a play called the ‘The Murder of Gonzago’ where he depicts his father’s death as told to him by the ghost (Scene , p. ). He hopes King Claudius’ reaction will prove his guilt or innocence. During the play when Claudius leaves following a scene showing the murder, Hamlet knows that his uncle is guilty of his father’s murder. Mad people are not known to engage in such intricate plots. In Act 3, he sneaks behind Claudius with the intention of killing him but he finds him praying. Hamlet decides not to kill him, reasoning that this will send Claudius to heaven and purgatory where he deserves (Scene , p. ). Staging plays and not killing Claudius when he had the chance to prove Hamlet was not mad.

Further deliberate deeds show Hamlet was not mad. In Act V Hamlet tells Horatio that he discovered King Claudius’s letter requesting he be killed in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s belongings. He then proceeded to switch the letter with one that said that his friends should be killed instead (Scene , p. ). These are not the actions of a person who is in charge of their mental wits. In the same Act during the final scene, in his dying breath, he begs Horatio not to commit suicide. He asks that he perseveres so he can tell their story (Scene , p. ). By forging letters that would have led to his death and having the mental awareness to ask Horatio not to kill himself, Hamlet proves that he was mentally stable.

Deciding not to kill Claudius because he will end up in heaven, telling his friends that he plans to act mad and requesting them not to reveal this to anyone, the forging of letters and planning plays that would prove Claudius’ guilt all show Hamlet was in control of his mental faculties. He only acted mad when in the presence of people who would further his plot but he acted normally around his friends. It is only in the final act when almost every royal family member is dead that he shows his true self to the public.