Question #7

             Hamlet is an educated individual who knows the many nuances of life. Not only has he studied philosophy abroad but from his speech and thought process one can tell that Hamlet is indeed part of the educated elite. With that said. Hamlet has experienced a very surreal experience. Seeing the ghost of his dead father has truly rattled him. He was initially wrought with confusion and fear. But the intellectual side of Hamlet quickly overcame these intial feelings and he immeidately devised a plan to gain his revenge against King Claudius. Amongst other things this elaborate plan consisted of his "acting" in a certain way in order to get people to think that he is in fact "feeling" a certain way and to gain the information he may need from others. For if everyboy thinks that he is going crazy then he truly has the leverage. For he can sway people, like the spies King Claudius sent, to reveal themsleves. Additionally the fact that he specifically and directly refers to his "antic disposition" in his speech reveals that he is fully aware of what he is doing and has planned it ever since he decided to get revenge against King Claudius. If one were to say that Hamlet is acting solely of off his anger and grief. I would agree that he is indeed acting of his anger and grief. But to what purpose? Hamlet uses his anger and grief to plan his revenge. From his volatile emotions stems the need to use his intellectuallsim to gain his revenge against Claudius.