Exploring Hamlets Acting Abilities
Hamlet's encounter with the players gives us an indication of howserious he is about the play. It is much more than a show for him. Hebelieves that drama can expose certain realities of life. In this case,Hamlet is looking at Claudius for any hints of guilt for killing Hamlet'sfather. He is hoping that by watching Claudius' reaction to the play, hecan finally know the truth one way or another. In addition, Hamlet alsothinks that drama reflects mankind. Earlier in the play, he tells theplayer that the purpose of acting, "was and is to hold, as it 'twere, themirror up to nature, to show virtue her (own) feature, scorn her own image,and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure" (III.ii.22-26). This statement reveals that Hamlet wants Ophelia and Claudius to seetheir evil nature. In order for them to be moved, the a
ctors must do agreat job of acting. The actingprovides a release for Hamlet to at least get some of his hostility out ofhis system. Hamlet desires to act against the king provides him an opportunity toapproach the player king in a way in which he cannot approach Claudius. When he and Hamlet discuss Polonius' acting the part ofJulius Caesar, Hamlet makes an ironic play on words when he tells him thatit was a brute part of the actor playing Brutus to "kill so capitol a calfthere" (III. Hamlet is a good actor because he convinces those who are closet to himthat he is mad. He also tells he that men like him are "arrant knaves"(III. Perhaps she avoids the truth of who killed King Hamlet by simply avoidingthe issue altogether.
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