Sanity: Boundaries of the Mind

Sanity: Boundaries of the Mind

The mind is a beautiful thing. The boundaries that someone can extend their

rationality is different in each and every person. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the

balance of sanity and madness is tested. Hamlet's way of thinking is changed,

but in a way that his personality is only a front. By looking at the different

events that Hamlet overcame, we can observe the passion for acting that many

readers do not come across; knowing the importance of acting is imperative when

questioning Hamlet's sanity, since he is only acting insane, and is rational and

in control of himself throughout the play.

For those who do not recall the story of Hamlet, this play is one of revenge,

scandal, and lies. Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is living a life that one

would not want to live. His father, the King, was murdered by his brother, who

is now married to Hamlet's mother. Hamlet beings his brilliant acting and

conniving when he learns that he must avenge his father's murder. Not only does

Hamlet fool his family when acting insane, but the genius of his work has fooled

critics all along.

As the play begins, the ever popular question "Who's there?" "Betrays the

insecurity of Hamlet's world" (Salkeld and Shakespeare). Starting the play with

a question was pure genius on Shakespeare's part; the symbolism of the

questionable state of Denmark which is "in a state of shock and confusion,"

along with the people in it, leads the readers right into the questionably

unstable life of Hamlet (Salkeld, Strachey). In act I, scene V of the play, the

audience learns of the "antic disposition" that Hamlet will be putting on

(Shakespeare). In this scene, he tells the audience that he plans to act insane

in order to get away with killing Claudius. He believes that by acting insane no

one will suspect him of doing anything such as that. To many critics the "whole

conduct of Hamlet's madness is too ludicrous" and in fact he has really gone mad

( Stubbers). For Hamlet to come out and say that he is planning to act insane

is, on the other hand, "purely and adequately a man of genius" (Strachey).

Hamlet's ability to imitate someone who is insane is astonishing. His ability to

do so is what has confused readers and critics. Not only can his sanity be seen,

but throughout different scenes his control and stability shine through.

When Hamlet comes up with the idea to put on a play, which he calls The

"Mouse-trap" the readers can see that under the complete ciaos there is a

brilliant mind at work. All along Hamlet had been trying to prove that Claudius

has killed King Hamlet and the play was the perfect way to do it. The

"Mouse-trap" is about the murder of a king, meant to be King Hamlet, and the

murder was of a king dying by poison being put into his ear, exactly the way

that Claudius had killed King Hamlet. Hamlet wanted to see the guilty reaction

of Claudius and hope that everyone would then know the truth. In act III scene

ii, Hamlet is discussing the play with the actors. From the beginning of the

play, Hamlet has been acing insane, and this moment shows that excellent acting

ability. Before the play commences, Hamlet is giving the players tips and advice

on acting and how the play should be read. He tells the players to "Speak the

speech I pray you as pronounced it to you, /trippingly in the tongue, but if you

mouth it as many of/your players do, I had as life the town-crier spoke

my/lines" (Shakespeare). What he is trying to emphasize is that he want them to

make the play very believable and as real as possible. Hamlet is trying to make

the play come to life in a way that people can see that the actors are

portraying real life. After Hamlet gives the players the lesson, a question

comes to mind; what would Hamlet know about acting? When Hamlet starts giving

the players tips and advice about how to act, it shows that he knows a lot more

about the art of acting than nay one anticipated of game him credit for. As the

play proceeds, Hamlet becomes fixed on the reaction of Claudius. When the Player

Claudius pours poison in the ear of the Player King, Claudius stands and asks

for lights. He cannot believe what he is seeing. In the film directed by Franco

Zeffirelli, Mel Gibson plays the role of Hamlet and this scene shows the horror

in Claudius's face beautifully. In this film, Claudius appears as though he had

seen a ghost. His eyes became full of thought and emotion and his demeanor

changed from very dignified to be wildered. He seemed lost and confused with

what he had just witnessed (Zeffirelli). Hamlet's ability to control