In act one, Hamlet interacts with his father's ghost, which informs him that Claudius is responsible for his death while he was sleeping in the orchard. The Ghost proceeds to instruct Hamlet to avenge his death by murdering King Claudius. Following Hamlet's interaction with his father's ghost, he contemplates the...
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Ghost's intentions and wonders if it is a malevolent spirit sent from hell to doom his soul. Hamlet is also mentally unstable and confused by the entire ordeal and unsure that the Ghost is telling the truth. When the actors arrive in act two, scene two, Hamlet requests that they performThe Murder of Gonzago and mentions that he will add a few lines of his own. Once everyone leaves the scene, Hamlet reveals his plan to discern whether or not King Claudius is guilty of assassinating his father. During Hamlet's soliloquy, he says,
I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a play
Have, by the very cunning of the scene,
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaimed their malefactions.
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players
Play something like the murder of my father
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick. If he but blench,
I know my course (Shakespeare, 2.2.576-586).
Hamlet instructs the actors to perform The Murder of Gonzago so they can reenact King Hamlet's assassination on stage. Hamlet plans on carefully watching Claudius's reaction to the play as an actor pretends to pour poison into the king's ear while he is sleeping. Hamlet hopes that Claudius will reveal his guilt when he witnesses the performers reenact his crime, which will confirm the Ghost's message and justify Hamlet's revenge. During the performance, Claudius reveals his guilty conscience by requesting more light, then rising out of his seat and leaving the room.