Is Hamlet acting or is he really insane?

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Hamlets confrontation with Gertrude leaves her questioning her son’s sanity. This is because she attests to him talking to thin air, which he claims was his father’s ghost (3,4). It seems like Gertrude has every right to think Hamlet is mad. Her judgement is also fuelled by Polonius’ murder. Hamlet did not know that Polonius was the spy behind the curtains ‘how now, a rat?’ (3,4,24).

Hamlets response to his mother is not full of love either. He is disgusted with his mother’s actions and is not ashamed of letting her know. ‘…Live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed…’ he does not hid his hatred for Claudius and Gertrude’s marriage. But Gertrude does not seem to understand why her son holds such strong feelings. She is clueless throughout most of the play. ‘As kill a king?’ Gertrude does not realise the real situation and how much hatred the two men bare. She is one of the reasons that stopped Claudius getting hamlet killed throughout the play. And when he finally decides to, she dies before both of them.

Gertrude is not the only woman in Hamlets life. He also confronted his lover Ophelia, where he came across as-yet again- misogynist. However, we cannot condemn Hamlet to hating women because we only see him two in the play. Ophelia rejected him and his mother married his uncle. But this is not surprising because Hamlet distrusts everyone and tries to push everyone away, especially Ophelia whom he says he loves greatly (5,1).

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The relationships between Hamlet and his mother and Hamlet and Ophelia could be portrayed as similar. Hamlets love for both women forces him to act in strange ways. He tells Ophelia to ‘go to a nunnery’ (3,1,126). A nunnery is a convent of nuns. If Ophelia did go to a nunnery, not only would she be safe, but she would have to vow to a life of celibacy meaning she would not be with another man which also benefited Hamlet and his selfish manner. He loses control and his violent side comes out during their confrontation (3,1).

Similarly, Gertrude ...

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This essay makes a lot of interesting points about 'Hamlet'; however there is no real structure to the essay in terms of addressing one question and relating points to that question. It is important when analysing a play that is as long as 'Hamlet' that there is a clear focus and structure to the response. 3 Stars