Throughout the novel, William Shakespeare takes his readers through many twists and turns, and many of the characters display strange or unnatural behavior, especially Hamlet. However, it leaves readers wondering whether Hamlet's “old-fashioned disposition” is genuine or whether it is invented. Many would argue that Hamlet is truly mad as this ultimately results in his downfall, but there are several reasons that suggest Hamlet's madness is feigned. Although he appears mad on the outside, Hamlet is sane, as seen in his ability to investigate his father's murder, gain new information, plot against other characters in the novel, and uncover the truth. Hamlet gives others the impression that sadness has overwhelmed his personality. He laments his father's death and his mother's marriage to an uncle he doesn't like. We see that Hamlet is quite sane because it shows that he has emotions and is simply grieving the death of his father. Later, King Hamlet's ghost visits Hamlet and tells him to "avenge his disgusting and unnatural murder." This is the first sign that might suggest to some readers that Hamlet has gone mad because the average person is not supposed to see and communicate with ghosts. However, after the confrontation with the ghost, Hamlet wonders whether the ghost of his dead father is a good or evil spirit. He states: “He may be the devil, and the devil has the power to assume a pleasant form. Yea, and perhaps for my weakness and melancholy, for he is very powerful with such spirits, he abuses me to damn me” (Act 2, scene 2, lines 561-564). This suggests that Hamlet still has sanity because he can distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil. To...... middle of paper ...... his once beloved friends, demonstrating how Hamlet is able to use feigned madness to distinguish his true allies from his enemies. By pretending to be mad, Hamlet has the ability to safely investigate and avenge his father's murder. Hamlet is aware that disguising his actions behind his so-called madness will prevent him from facing the consequences. There are several instances in the novel where Hamlet's temporary bouts of instability portray him as mad, but we are all human and eventually our emotions will get the better of us. Clearly, Hamlet is not mad. Madness would mean that he has lost contact with reality, when he has always realized what he is doing and the consequences of his actions. Overall, feigning madness allows Hamlet to vent his feelings without being judged harshly by others, challenge King Claudius' authority, and adapt new ideas..