In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the
play-within-the-play, which Hamlet tells Claudius is titled, The Mousetrap, creates
suspense by providing a way for Hamlet to know if the Ghost is telling the truth about
King Hamlet's death. Thus, as Hamlet waits to see Claudius's reaction, so does the
audience. That's suspense.
Throughout the play, virtually
no one in the play is what they seem, or more specifically, no one is playing the role
that is expected (Hamlet acts insane, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, and
Claudius all act as spies, etc.). Hamlet himself raises the issue of seeming when he
insists that others may only seem to be in mourning, but he genuinely is in mourning.
Continuing this theme, The Mousetrap seems to be only a simple entertainment, but in
reality is a trap. And Claudius seems to be innocent to the people of Denmark, but is
not. The Mousetrap is Hamlet's means of exposing the truth--at least to
himself.
The play, and Claudius's guilty reaction to it,
give Hamlet corroboration for the Ghost's story. This frees Hamlet to morally kill
Claudius. It also sends Claudius into a figurative tailspin, moving him to an emotional
prayer. The play should conclude when Hamlet finds Claudius at prayer and has a chance
to kill him. It doesn't, however, because Hamlet doesn't want to send Claudius to
heaven by killing him as he confesses. And this leads to the climax of the
play.
Hamlet goes beyond his station in life when he
attempts to determine another human being's eternal salvation. When he doesn't kill
Claudius he is guilty of hubris (acting above one's station in life), and he dooms
himself and numerous others.
Thus, The Mousetrap leads
directly to the climax. And though Hamlet's plan works--the mouse is trapped--and
Hamlet wins the cat-and-mouse game he's been playing with Claudius, the
play-within-the-play also leads to the climax and Hamlet's
doom.
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