Disillusionment, depression, and despair are the burning emotions churning in Hamlet's soul as he attempts to come to terms with his father's death and his mother's incestuous, illicit marriage. When Hamlet tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered idealism, he consciously embarks on a quest to seek the hidden truth. Hamlet is faced with the fact that he has to avenge the murder of his father. Insanity is his conspiracy to avenge his father's murder, and never gives into it.
Hamlet's supposed insanity is brought upon by careful calculation and gives him a chance to show his intent. Horatio offers an insightful warning saying, "What if it temps you toward the flood . And draw you into madness? Think of it" (act I, scene ii< pg. 53). Horatio's comment may be where Hamlet gets the idea to use a plea of insanity to work out his plan. Hamlet's sanity is clarified in the first act by statements and feelings expressed within his dialogue. When asked about his depressed appearance and demeanor by Gertrude, Hamlet replies, "Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems"" (act I, scene ii, pg. 25). This relates the idea that Hamlet is what he appears to be, which everyone thinks is madness.
When young Hamlet sees the ghost again in his mother's room, Gertrude's amazement at his madness is quite convincing. "This is the very coinage of your brain. This bodiless creation ecstasy is very cunning in" (act III, scene iv, pg. 179). Gertrude exclaims to herself and her son Hamlet in which he is delusional and his mind is conjuring up images of his dead father. Gertrude then tells King Claudius when asked upon the state of being of Hamlet, "Mad as the sea and wind when both contend . And in this brainish apprehension kills the unseen good old man" (act IV, scene I, pg. 187). Now both the King and Gertrude believe that Hamlet's insanity has severely developed and is a threat to the kingdom only to not know the real intent of his true madness.
