Hamlet Group

Question:

halim
halim
Student
College - Senior

What is the significance of the play within a play in Hamlet?

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Posted by halim on Monday August 31, 2009 at 8:35 PM and tagged with play within a play, theme, tragedy.

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  1. brandih

    eNotes Editor

    This question has been previously asked and answered. Please see the links below, and thank you for using eNotes.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/q-and-a/how-does-playwithin-...
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/q-and-a/what-summery-about-p...
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/q-and-a/write-details-signif...

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    Posted by brandih on Tuesday September 1, 2009 at 10:31 AM


  2. jagtig

    The play within a play serves as a vehicle for Hamlet to show his talents as a playwrite, mirroring the personality of the writer of the play, himself.

    In fact, then and later, Hamlet considers that he might be better off as a member of troupe of actors. Perhaps this is just a way to say that he is very hungry, indeed.

    The play-within-a-play is designed to pique the conscience of Claudius, and succeeds in doing so, however the opportunity to consummate revenge, as directed by the ghost, eludes Hamlet for the time being. His only victim is the father of his beloved Ophelia, and thus the element of romantic-tragedy arises, as Ophelia goes mad and kills herself as a direct result.

    The play-within-a-play has been cited down through history as a novel and ingenious invention, one more thematic intricacy making Hamlet perhaps the greatest of all plays bar none.

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    Posted by jagtig on Wednesday September 2, 2009 at 8:26 AM

  3. ukteacher
    ukteacher Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    It is useful also to think of 'Hamlet' in the context of Jacobean drama.  'Hamlet' is a Revenge Tragedy (with capital letters) in the tradition of, for example, Kyd's 'Spanish Tragedy' and Webster's 'Duchess of Malfi'.  One of the conventions of Revenge Tragedies was the play within a play, which would be designed to cause distress or stir up guilt or help reveal truth.

    Other conventions are followed by Shakespeare.  Revenge Tragedies included the appearance of a ghost; a depressed (or melancholy) revenger; a violent ending where most of the protagonists die.  There are more conventions if students wish to study this area.

    Yet, 'Hamlet' goes beyond all other Revenge Tragedies of the time.  The main protagonist is complex and psychologically accurate, the language exquisite, and the relationships are subtly and superbly drawn.

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    Posted by ukteacher on Wednesday September 9, 2009 at 4:30 AM