Title: Significance of the Play within Play
Headings: Significance of the Play within Play
Significance of the Play within Play
Hamlet Study Center

Content: This piece of advice given by Shakespeare through Hamlet shows Hamlet at his best. He is playing the part of Deputy Providence, plotting, arranging, baiting the trap, etc. His making fun of Ophelia, his darting sarcasm at his mother and playing the part of a Chorus, his mocking the King, all shows his versatile genius. The play-within-the-play serves to emphasize that Hamlet is not the traditional revenge play. The hero, after the Ghost's words have been confirmed, he yet spares Claudius' life because the King is praying. The problem is that Hamlet sees himself as one who is to ensure the victim’s punishment in the next world also. He is overestimating his role, and it is only towards the end that he will truly understand that man must accept certain conditions and act within them readily. However, it would be wrong to consider the scene the central act and the crisis of the play. It is important as far as bringing Claudius and Hamlet to a full awareness of one another's true nature. Hamlet Study Center
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