Question #7
Hamlet tells his companions he is likely to put on an 'antic disposition' because he doesn't want to worry him. As evidenced by the reactions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, his new disposition is one that leads people to believe he has lost his marbles. I think his behavior is not a natural reaction but a calculated strategy. Based on the difference between his manic displays in public and his brooding, sad soliliqueies, he is not actually crazy; you can't turn off crazy. The reason behind his new disposition is simple, keep the king off guard, if Claudius believes he is unsuspected, he is likely to make a make a mistake.
Question #14
When Hamlet says 'Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good ro bad, but thining makes it so.', he is aiming to confuse, under the guise of his antic disposition. He means that we apply meaning to everything, nothing inherently means anything. He is saying this to test Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because he suspects them as spies. When he says: 'I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw' it suggests that he can control his madness and it isn't in fact organic. Hamlet is faking.
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