The character of Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play of the same name is one of the most complex and interesting characters in the Western canon – attempting to take revenge on his uncle Claudius for his alleged murder of Hamlet's father, the young prince pretends to be mad to lower his guard and keep him off balance until he finds the right moment to strike. However, the question remains: at the end of the play, how much does Hamlet pretend to be mad? Is it really an act, or has Hamlet really assumed an “antiquated disposition” as Hamlet vows to assume (Iv172)? While it can be confirmed that Hamlet's madness is more or less a ruse, his very dedication to his task, as well as the uncertainty he has in completing it, lead to several moments of true madness for Hamlet's character. The character pretends to put on a veneer of madness simply as a simulation, but his pain and the weight of his plan lead him down a path that clouds his mind with sadness and madness at various points. Hamlet's characters often feel as if they are victims of fate; however, much of what happens to them is due to their own actions. Man's power to shape his own destiny is clear in the play: Hamlet himself says, "What a work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and motion, how much is expressed and admirable! In action." like an angel! like a god! (II.ii.293-297). The actions of Hamlet's characters, from Hamlet's decision whether or not to kill Claudius to Gertrude's willful ignorance of her husband's actions, all lead to the often gruesome fates they encounter. Revenge drives Hamlet's central plot, as Hamlet... in the center of the paper... pretends to deceive Claudius. disposition” would imply. There are several moments in the play where he shows that he cannot truly control his behavior, and from the beginning he appears to be extremely emotional and violent in his outbursts. It's easy to see how the grief over his father's death, combined with the indecision he has about what he wants to do to Claudio, could lead him to have a much looser grip on reality than he would like. Hamlet often forgets himself and where he is, and if he wants to pretend to be crazy while in reality he is absolutely sane, he would not be so careless with his real plan, especially if he knows that his enemies can hear him. For this reason, Hamlet's "outdated disposition" can be seen as something that is not fully staged.