The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is one of the defining plays of Shakespeare’s heralded career. Whilst quite popular on both the stage and the screen, this timeless performance has spurred much conversation, like any good work does. One of the most famous points of contention is Hamlet’s mental stability.
Did Hamlet’s actually become insane due to the anguish of his father’s death, his uncle’s treachery, and his mother’s behaviour. Although some accredit the prince’s increasingly erratic and violent behaviour as signs of madness actually taking hold, Shakespeare’s words assert that Hamlet was feigning insanity as a means to confuse his enemies, despite different audience interpretations. Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Hamlet does a superb job of recreating Shakespeare’s work according to those words.
In the play, Hamlet and Horatio’s interaction during Act III Scene II reveal to the audience how Hamlet is still able to think rationally under the circumstances he’s in. His plan to out Claudius’s guilty conscience through the reenactment of his crime is well-thought out, and his manner of speaking with Horatio is that a composed man. Furthermore, his ability to jump between coherent, intelligent conversation and uninterpretable speech is testament to his ingenuity and guise.
In Hamlet’s dialogue with Horatio Shakespeare wrote, “There is a play tonight before the King. / One scene of it comes near the circumstance / Which I have told thee of my father’s death” (III.ii.80-82). However, moments later, Hamlet is speaking with Claudius, and Shakespeare writes completely differently: “Excellent, i’faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I/eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed/ capons so” (III.ii.99-101). Shakespeare’s intention with this is evident.
Hamlet is concise with Horatio, a trustworthy friend of his. He is open and speaks fluently because he is sane. He pretends to act insane around Claudius because he is the enemy. His words become gibberish, intentionally. Hamlet’s act veils his true intentions and gives Claudius a false sense of security. He thinks his son-in-law cannot think straight, therefore he doesn’t worry about Hamlet finding out the truth, Little does he know that Hamlet already has, and that’s what makes the act of insanity genius.
The tone of Hamlet’s conversation with Horatio is best described as sincere. Shakespeare uses the idiom “heart of heart” in Hamlet’s speech. It show’s Hamlet’s true feelings and intentions, without the veil of his act. Shakespeare also uses words like “damned” to describe the ghost when Hamlet considers the other side. “Damned” things are unholy, works of trickery by the devil. By writing this in Hamlet’s dialogue, it suggests rationality in thinking, and a consideration of all aspects to this convoluted situation. But Hamlet’s speech end with the “censure of his seeming”.
This reinforces Hamlet’s belief that Claudius has guilt. “Censure” means to severely criticize, and it carries a very heavy negative connotation. It’s an affirmation that all the criticism is justified. By using it instead of a word like “scrutiny”, Shakespeare hammers in Hamlet’s sincerity in this passage. He is not only sincere in speaking with his friend, but he also sincerely believes that Claudius has committed treason. All the while, it is maintained that Hamlet has not gone beyond the edge of rationality to insanity.
Director and actor Kenneth Branagh, also understood this intention in Shakespeare’s words. His film portrayed Hamlet as a false madman. During the conversation between Hamlet and Horatio, stringed instruments play calming music to reflect Hamlet not as deranged, but as a collected man with strong sense of purpose. Furthermore, Hamlet lowers himself below Horatio to show his humility in requesting his friend’s services.
