The key to a good movie or play are the actors. Anyone can recite lines off a script, however it takes an astounding actor or actress to convince the audience that they are truly that character in every way possible. Not only is this challenging to do on occasion, it is extremely difficult to maintain this persona for an extended period of time. In William Shakespeare’s play “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” the protagonist Hamlet adopts a new personality in order to avenge his father’s death. He successfully convinces not only his family, but the whole state of Denmark that he is truly insane. Although Hamlet states numerous times that his madness is merely a ruse, it can be perceived that he actually became deranged through his actions, thoughts and words. It is left up to the reader to decide whether Hamlet is truly the smartest, most devious one out of all of Denmark, that he sincerely fell into madness and despair, or that he is a mixture of both. The play “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” took place in the Elizabethan era, a time in history where there was a hierarchy of classes and religion was always the upmost importance. If someone was murdered or killed in combat, it was up to the next of kin to avenge them. In the play, Hamlet is charged with the task of solving his father’s murder and then avenging him. In order to confirm who the culprit is, Hamlet has to outwit his uncle Claudius, the new king of, along with everyone else in Denmark. In doing so, he “appears” to have fallen into madness, when in reality he is still the same Hamlet as before. The question remains, is Hamlet insane or is he the most devious and cunning person in all of Denmark? There are many examples that would suggest Hamlet has lost a few screws, although there is even more evidence that clearly states that he is in complete control of his actions. Before starting his bewildering crusade, Hamlet confided in his most trusted allies his plan to reveal Claudius true nature when he said to Horatio and Marcellus: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come. Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd some’er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put on an antic disposition on)” (I.v.187-192) Hamlet is warning is friends not to question his behavior and then makes them both swear on his sword that they will tell no one of his plan. Although, throughout the play Hamlet is apparently crazy, he is still cunning with his plan to avenge his father and in foiling his uncles attempt to dispose of him. When Hamlet is returning to Denmark after his uncle tried to have him killed in England for knowing that he murdered his father, he retells the story of his return to Horatio and says: “I had my father’s signet in my purse, Which was the model of that Danish seal; Folded the writ up in the form of th’other, (Subscribed) it, gave ‘t th’ impression, placed