ACT III, 2: THE MOUSTRAP
At this point, midway through Hamlet, the play within the play begins (at line 122). One should note how the play begins with a “dumb show” – a brief version of the play that is performed without words. The dumb show serves as the “argument” (126) or summary of the play to arouse the interest of the audience.
Hamlet tells Claudius that the title of the play is The Mousetrap (217). Of course, Hamlet is actually referring to Claudius himself as the mouse, whom Hamlet hopes to trap (to have him reveal his role in the murder of King Hamlet).
The play has the effect that Hamlet expected. Claudius becomes emotionally stunned and rushes out of the theater abruptly (line 247).
The reaction of Claudius to the play convinces Hamlet that the ghost was telling him the truth: “I’ll take the Ghost’s word for a thousand pound” (263-64). Once again, Hamlet has the motive, the cue, for getting revenge immediately against Claudius. Yet, once again, Hamlet hesitates.
ACT III, 2: THE RECORDER METAPHOR
Toward the end of the second scene, Hamlet has another conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They bring him a message that his mother, Queen Gertrude, is not feeling well and wishes to speak with him. During their conversation, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern once again try to get Hamlet to reveal why he is so deeply troubled, and they ask him in the name of friendship to reveal his grief. But they are not there as friends; they are there as spies.
Hamlet becomes annoyed with them and asks Guildenstern to play a recorder – a musical instrument like a pipe. Guildenstern replies that he does not have the skill to play the recorder. Hamlet responds angrily with the following: “You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart of my mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass” (335-37). Hamlet is asserting that understanding a man is far more difficult to do that understanding how to play a simple musical instrument. Yet Guildenstern cannot do the simple task although he attempts to do the difficult one. He attempts to unravel the mystery of Hamlet’s heart.
But Hamlet is not about to let Claudius’ spy do that.
ACT III, 2: NOW COULD I DRINK
HOT BLOOD
A short soliloquy concludes the second scene. Hamlet once again asserts that he is ready for an immediate vengeance: “Now could I drink hot blood” (360). But instead of getting revenge immediately, Hamlet decides that he will first go speak to his mother. “I will speak daggers to her, but use none” (366). Hamlet intends to speak fiercely and cruelly to his mother, but he will not harm her physically. Yet, as noted before, Hamlet is delaying the immediate business at hand. He should see Claudius before he goes to see his mother.