Group 4: Act III Sc.2 The Mousetrap

Part 8 "Get thee to a nunery", The Mousetrap, and Claudius' confession overheard by Hamlet

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=nN35R2v8qGc&feature=related

Hamlet has arranged for a group of visiting actors to put on a play. The play begins with a mime show re-enacting the murder of King Hamlet as told by the ghost. In this mime we see the murderer seducing the queen afterwards. Following the mime show there is a play with speaking. Hamlet tells Claudius that it is a re-enactment of a murder that took place in Italy, where the Duke Gonzago is poisoned by his nephew Lucianus. The play shows the charater Lucianus, pouring poison into the Gonzago's ear while he is sleeping. Hamlet tells Claudius that the murderer in the play will eventually win the love of Gonzago's wife. Note that Zeffirelli has reversed the order of these events.

Hamlet believes that if Claudius is guilty he will show it in his behaviour and his facial expressions, and lead to a confession. He and Horatio will both observe Claudius and compare their observations afterwards.

Claudius is enraged and cries out for light. The play is stopped and Hamlet is now convinced that he has entrapped Claudius.