Sane Hamlet and Mad Ophelia In Hamlet, Shakespeare incorporates the theme of madness with two characters: one who is truly mad and the other who acts mad just to serve a reason. Hamlet's madness is often disputed. This article argues that the contrapuntal character in the play, namely Ophelia, acts as a balancing argument for the other character's madness or sanity. Shakespeare creates a contrasting relationship between Ophelia's breakdown and the "north-northwest" type of madness used by Hamlet in that while Hamlet's character offers more evidence of contrived manipulation, Ophelia's breakdown is swift, but more conclusive in its precision. Although Shakespeare does not directly contrast Ophelia's madness (or breakdown) with Hamlet's madness, there is instead a clear finality in Ophelia's condition and a clear uncertainty in Hamlet's madness. Obviously, Hamlet's character offers more evidence, while Ophelia's collapse is swift, but more conclusive in its precision. Shakespeare offers clear evidence pointing to Hamlet's sanity starting from the first scene of the play. Hamlet begins with the guards whose main importance in the play is to give credibility to the ghost. If Hamlet saw his father's ghost in private, the argument for his madness would be greatly improved. However, not one, but three men together witness the ghost before even thinking of warning Hamlet. As Horace says, being the only one of the guards to play a significant role in the rest of the play, "Before my God, I might not believe this / Without the sensible and true confirmation / Of my eyes" (Ii56-8). Horatio, who appears frequently throughout the play, again serves as an unquestionably sound alibi for Hamlet when framing the King with his reaction to the play. The fact that Hamlet speaks to the ghost alone diminishes his credibility somewhat, but all the men witness the ghost demanding that Hamlet speak to him alone. Horace offers a piercing warning: And if it should tempt you towards the flood, my lord, or towards the terrible summit of the cliff which falls from its base into the sea, and there assume some other horrible form, which might deprive your sovereignty? of reason and drag you into madness? Think about it (I.iv.69-74). Horatio's comment may be where Hamlet gets the idea to use a plea of ​​madness to come up with his plan. The important fact is that the ghost does not change shape, but rather remains the king and speaks rationally to Hamlet.