Alas he’s mad’ (3,4,106)How true is Gertrude’s statement regarding her son’s state of mind through out the

In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, many people look at the play in different ways. Many portions of the play support his loss of control on actions, while other parts uphold his ability of dramatic art. The issue whether or not Hamlet is mad can be discussed in both ways. Throughout the play there are indications that support ‘Hamlets madness’ 1. While other evidence would suggest that his ‘madness is a disguise to murder Claudius’ 2.
In Act 1 Scene 4, Hamlet meets the ghost for the first time ‘alas poor ghost’ 3, it is thought by Hamlet that the ghost is his ‘father’s spirit’ 4. The apparition informs the prince that he was killed ‘by a brothers hand’ 5, thus meaning Claudius. Clearly at this moment Hamlet is not feeling cheerful, as he has been given the news that his uncle murdered his father, but yet, he greets his ...