Hamlet's Sanity One of the most controversial questions surrounding William Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, is whether the title character was mad or simply acting. By examining Hamlet and his actions throughout the play against the characteristics of sanity, such as the ability to reason and knowing the difference between right and wrong, it will be demonstrated that Hamlet was in fact sane. Many have tried to determine sanity by proving him crazy. However, this is difficult because Hamlet states that he will act madly to get revenge on Claudius (1.5.180-181). Therefore, the reader is unsure whether or not Hamlet is acting when he appears to be mad. While it is possible to be sane and act sanely, by definition it is impossible to be mad and act sanely because madness lacks the essential characteristics to control the necessary thought process (the ability to reason) to act sanely. By examining Hamlet's sanity instead of his perceived insanity one can obtain a more accurate conclusion of his mental state. Hamlet shows the ability to reason on several occasions. The first visualization occurs in Act 2, Scene 2. Hamlet is not sure if the ghost he saw was really his father. “The spirit I saw / May be the devil, and the devil has power / T' takes a pleasant form” (2.2.599-601). Hamlet also wonders if the devil was simply telling him what he wanted to hear. "Yes, and perhaps, / for my weakness and my melancholy, / . . . / He insults me to damn me," (2.2.601-604). In these lines Hamlet questions the truthfulness of the ghost and his inner desires. This shows that Hamlet is able to reason that the ghost may not have been his father and that he may have wanted...... middle of paper......." Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1-10. "Hamlet: A Document in Madness."Goldman, Michael. "Hamlet and Our Troubles." . David Scott Kaston, New York City, 1995. 43-55 Hart, Bernard Cambridge, 1914. Landis, Carney and James D. Page. Modern Society and Mental Illness New York: Farrar and Rinehart, 1938. Reforming the modern critical role". New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 117-128Shakespeare, William Norton, critical edition, 1992.