ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Despite the evidence that Hamlet actually is mad, we also see substantial evidence that he is just pretending. The most obvious evidence is that Hamlet himself says he is going to pretend to be mad, suggesting he is at least sane enough to be able to tell the difference between disordered and rational behavior.

Detailed explanation-2: -While Hamlet plots to feign mental illness, many have argued that his mental health unravels throughout the course of the play due to a number of factors (his father’s death, his suspicions regarding Gertrude and Claudius, his unintentional murder of Polonius.) His “madness” becomes not merely performance, but truth.

Detailed explanation-3: -(3: 176-180) Claudius says that Hamlets emotions are not from affection. What he does is not insane, it has a higher reason.

Detailed explanation-4: -Throughout the tragedy, he is over-exaggerating his madness for his plan of revenge. Hamlet is sane because he only acts mad in front of certain people, he told his friends of his plan of revenge, and the fact that many people continuously doubted his insanity.