The play-within-play is a technical device of the dramatist to interpret and intensify the play's governing theme. The play within-play, The Murder of Gonzago enables Hamlet to put Claudius on trial to catch his conscience and to determine whether he is guilty or not.
Hamlet has been entrusted with the duty of avenging his father’s death by his father's ghost who reveals to him King Claudius, his uncle to be his murderer. But Hamlet hesitates to execute the command of the Ghost, because he has doubts about the veracity of the Ghost's message. He wishes to have proof before taking revenge and allows time to lapse. Musing over his ill fate and feigning madness. Meanwhile some players come to the court, Hamlet's old interest revives and he arranges the plan of having The Murder of Gonzago played before the King and the Queen, with the addition of a speech written py himself for the occasion.
https://englitguidebd.blogspot.com/2017/08/examine-relationship-between-miranda.html
Polonius announces that their majesties, (the King and the Queen) are ready to "hear this piece of work". Hamlet then requests Horatio to observe his uncle's reaction to one particular speech. The appointed evening arrives and while the court is assembling, Hamlet resumes his lunatic demeanor and engages in banter with Claudius and Polonius. He chooses to sit at Ophelia's feet rather than next to the Queen so that he could see the King's pace clearly. Hamlet plays the role of the commentator, too.
The actual staging of the murder-play is preceded by a dumb show which is a silent enactment of the main argument of the play. It represents very closely the crime committed by Claudius. The dumb show is followed by the actual play. When Lucianus, the player-kilig's nephew, enters, Hamlet's excitement begins to grow and he urges the actor playing the role of the murderer to get on with his speech. As the murderer pours poison into the player-king's ear, Hamlet tells the audience that the king's name is Gonzago, that the story is true and that soon they will see how Lucianus wins Gonzago's wife. At this Claudius suddenly rises and cries out for light while Polonius calls for an end to the play. Hamlet, alone with Horatio, is ecstatic with the effect of his play and declares, he now believes the Ghost's story. Horatio also agrees with him and the next moment Rosencrantz and Guildenstern informs Hamlet that the King is indisposed. Thus Claudius's guilt is confirmed.
To sum up, the 'play-within-play' has immense dramatic significance. It serves to emphasize the fact that Hamlet is not the hero of a traditional revenge play, because he fails to kill the king at prayer on moral grounds even after getting confirmed of his guilt by the play-scene of The Murder of Gonzago. The scene is important in the sense that it brings Claudius and Hamlet to a full awareness of each other's true nature. Besides, the "play-within-play" helps Shakespeare to reveal his own theories of play-acting. Hamlet, who acts as the director plotting and arranging the play, is Shakespeare's mouthpiece, through whom he expresses his ideas of play-acting and shows his contempt for the contemporary actors.
Hamlet has been entrusted with the duty of avenging his father’s death by his father's ghost who reveals to him King Claudius, his uncle to be his murderer. But Hamlet hesitates to execute the command of the Ghost, because he has doubts about the veracity of the Ghost's message. He wishes to have proof before taking revenge and allows time to lapse. Musing over his ill fate and feigning madness. Meanwhile some players come to the court, Hamlet's old interest revives and he arranges the plan of having The Murder of Gonzago played before the King and the Queen, with the addition of a speech written py himself for the occasion.
https://englitguidebd.blogspot.com/2017/08/examine-relationship-between-miranda.html
Polonius announces that their majesties, (the King and the Queen) are ready to "hear this piece of work". Hamlet then requests Horatio to observe his uncle's reaction to one particular speech. The appointed evening arrives and while the court is assembling, Hamlet resumes his lunatic demeanor and engages in banter with Claudius and Polonius. He chooses to sit at Ophelia's feet rather than next to the Queen so that he could see the King's pace clearly. Hamlet plays the role of the commentator, too.
The actual staging of the murder-play is preceded by a dumb show which is a silent enactment of the main argument of the play. It represents very closely the crime committed by Claudius. The dumb show is followed by the actual play. When Lucianus, the player-kilig's nephew, enters, Hamlet's excitement begins to grow and he urges the actor playing the role of the murderer to get on with his speech. As the murderer pours poison into the player-king's ear, Hamlet tells the audience that the king's name is Gonzago, that the story is true and that soon they will see how Lucianus wins Gonzago's wife. At this Claudius suddenly rises and cries out for light while Polonius calls for an end to the play. Hamlet, alone with Horatio, is ecstatic with the effect of his play and declares, he now believes the Ghost's story. Horatio also agrees with him and the next moment Rosencrantz and Guildenstern informs Hamlet that the King is indisposed. Thus Claudius's guilt is confirmed.
To sum up, the 'play-within-play' has immense dramatic significance. It serves to emphasize the fact that Hamlet is not the hero of a traditional revenge play, because he fails to kill the king at prayer on moral grounds even after getting confirmed of his guilt by the play-scene of The Murder of Gonzago. The scene is important in the sense that it brings Claudius and Hamlet to a full awareness of each other's true nature. Besides, the "play-within-play" helps Shakespeare to reveal his own theories of play-acting. Hamlet, who acts as the director plotting and arranging the play, is Shakespeare's mouthpiece, through whom he expresses his ideas of play-acting and shows his contempt for the contemporary actors.
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