For the past 2 weeks I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out how “Hamlet” relates to autism. First I looked up Shakespeare to see what he had to offer; nothing. Then I looked back on Hamlet’s madness to see if he showed any signs of autism, and for the most part, nothing. Then I realized that many of the characters have shown slight signs of autism throughout the play. Gertrude, hamlets mother, is seen in the novel as very detached. She doesn't seem to understand any reason for Hamlet to be frustration with her. And, in the beginning of the novel it’s almost as if she had no sentimental attachment to King Hamlet in the first place. The newly appointed King, King Claudius, is in a very logical state of mind. When he lifts his hands to pray there is a long soliloquy about the reasons why he cannot pray (because of his sin) and then the reasons why praying will not be able to wash away his sins (he is still committing said sin). While the stereotypical villain wouldn't have ever considered reasons why He shouldn't be forgiven. Now, as for Hamlet, that is a different story. Some of his signs of autism were side effects to his madness. While the theory that he is faking the madness is a strong one, I will be talking about his symptoms as though they are real. He begins to develop a daily schedule. The long walks, the midnight visits with his father, and meetings with his stepfather and mother. He also uses his madness to get out of conversations and to make people think he’s useless in all the drama that’s spreading around the castle. I am not saying that autistic people use their disease to get out of things. I am simply pointing out that he is avoiding conversation at all costs and people seem to think that he is incapable of doing any social damage to them or the secrets they hold. Much like they do to an autistic person.