Comment critically on the significance of the play-within-the play in Hamlet.

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Comment critically on the significance of the play-within-the play in Hamlet.

The play–within- the play occurs in Hamlet Act II, Scene III. This was a well – known dramatic device in Shakespeare’s days used to give an interesting turn to the plot and to further the theme. Kyd in his famous Spanish Tragedy had favoured such a device successfully and this might have prompted Shakespeare to introduce it in Hamlet, which had some elements of revenge tragedy in it. We should now see how this play – scene affects the course of play to be able to measure its real significance.

We know already that Hamlet learnt of his father’s foul murder through poisoning by Claudius and of his mission to avenge his father’s death as ordered by his father’s Ghost. Hamlet , however , was still in doubt and procrastinated, when the touring players arrived and the idea of testing the quiet of the king by a play suddenly hit him. “The play is the thing”, he exclaims, “to catch the conscience of the king”. By enacting the play, Hamlet thought he could clear himself of double – that about the honesty of the Ghost and the other about the occulted guilt of his uncle who was now the king (Claudius). This is the main motive of the play – scene.

The play is preceded by a summary dumb – show, which largely goes unnoticed by the royal couple (Claudius and queen) busy in whispering conversation. Than the actual play The Murder of Gonzaga begins with its story of a happy king who recalls a happy married life of three decades and expresses his devout desire for the extension of that marital bliss. The Queen , however , shows her anxiety about the health of the king who again confirms that he is approaching the end of his mortal journey. The Queen protests that if it would come to that she would never marry again. The King gently contradicts her when out of wisdom born of experience he pithily pronounces that out loves change with our fortunes. As a reaction, we find the Queen making frenzied protestation of her eternal constancy. The king feels drowsy and falls asleep when the Queen leaves and the King’s nephew enter to pour deadly poison in the ears of the sleeping king.

The play – scene has also been called the mouse – trap scene. In fact the trap is well – laid in advance by Hamlet who tells Horatio only his basic purpose while asking him to keep a constant watch on the kings (Claudius) face during the poisoning scene. During the play Hamlet keeps himself busy in various ways indicative of his method in madness.....................

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Milan Tomic

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