HAMLET         Ay, marry. Why was he sent into England?

GRAVEDIGGER          Why, because ’a was mad. ’A shall recover his wits there. Or if ’a do not, ’tis no great matter there.

HAMLET         Why?

GRAVEDIGGER          ’Twill not be seen in him there. There the men are as mad as he.

HAMLET         How came he mad?

GRAVEDIGGER          Very strangely, they say.

HAMLET         How, strangely?

GRAVEDIGGER          Faith, e’en with losing his wits.

HAMLET         Upon what ground?

GRAVEDIGGER          Why, here in Denmark. I have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years.       (5.1.141-153)

Ah, right, ay, marry. Hamlet. Him. So, why was he sent into England then? (What are they saying on the street, in the pubs, outside the court?) Why, because ’a was mad. (As if explaining to a small, slow, child; it’s self-evident.) ’A shall recover his wits there; he’ll come to himself in England. Or if ’a do not, ’tis no great matter there. Wouldn’t make any odds if he didn’t, of course. Why? This seems intriguing… (Again, as if explaining to someone slow on the uptake.) It’s obvious, isn’t it? ’Twill not be seen in him there. No one would notice him being mad, because there the men are as mad as he. (An easy laugh, but also a continuing opportunity for the gravedigger to display his perverse truth-telling, his utter logic.)

Hamlet’s intrigued, perhaps he might finally get some answers: how came he mad? (That is, after all, the question, or one of them, at least.) Oh, very strangely, they say. His madness, it was, well—mad. All a bit odd. How, strangely, though? Can you elaborate? Faith, e’en with losing his wits. Come on, that should be obvious! But upon what ground, why did he lose his wits, what was the cause? (How can anyone be so perverse? thinks Hamlet. How can anyone be so stupid? thinks the gravedigger.) Why, here in Denmark. Where else? I have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years. Partly the gravedigger’s answering the question that Hamlet asked a few moments back, about how long he’s been in the job, but also he’s claiming a kind of authority; why do you keep doubting me, pushing back? I know what I’m talking about!