What happens in the play-within-a-play in hamlet?

Answer 1

It is called "The Murder of Gonzago" or "The Mousetrap" and depicts the murder of a king, whose widow then marries the murderer. Sound familiar?

Answer 2

The Murder of Gonzago reflects the issues bothering Hamlet in multiple ways. In the play, it shows that when the king was murdered, the queen immediately married his brother, which is exactly what Gertrude did when King Hamlet was murdered. The play also has a scene where a brother kills his brother to grant himself the throne. This is exactly what Claudius did to Hamlet’s father. Also, the rest of the crowd who also saw the play thinks that the play is supposed to be a “hit” to Gertrude, because they are in the dark about what Claudius did to his brother.

Answer 3

Within the context of the plot, Hamlet is using the play to portray the murder of his father in the hopes that his uncle will be betrayed into revealing his guilt. In that sense it succeeds.

There is something deliciously bewildering about having actors playing the part of actors who are playing the part of the other characters in the play. And not only are the actors acting, but Hamlet (who is acting mad) and Claudius (who is acting innocent) are all acting and not revealing their true selves. Therefore there are levels upon levels of pretence going on here.

This gets even better in the film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, where the actors are playing not the Murder of Gonzago, but Hamlet. At one point in the film, the actors are rehearsing the part of Hamlet where the actors are putting on the play within a play (Which is of course a play within a play within a film).

Answer 4

The reason for the play within the play is to see Claudius's reaction to the parts of the play that are mirroring the murder of King Hamlet. King Hamlet's Ghost told Hamlet that Claudius was his murderer but Hamlet feels the need to investigate it. By having Horatio watch the King's reaction, he can judge if Claudius was actually the killer.

Answer 5

He called it The Murder of Gonzago. It was a direct reenactment of the murder of his father.

Answer 6

It is called "The Murder of Gonzago" or "The Mousetrap" and depicts the murder of a king, whose widow then marries the murderer. Sound familiar?