Hamlet: Act III Scenes II-III

 A play inside of a play, what a classic theather moment. Hamlet's play that he planned is being set up at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2. Hamlet is instructing his actors for the play on what he wants for the acting style. He instructs quite specifically in saying "Speak the speech I pray as I pronounced it to you" (3.2.1). Meaning he wants the actors to say it exactly how he spoke it to them so that it is accurate and will get a reaction from Claudius. Also before the play starts, Hamlet instructs Horatio to keep an eye on Claudius for him. To see if there will be a reaction which will be Hamlet's answer on the true death of his father. Hamlet is quite rude and blunt to Ophelia, Gertrude, and Claudius. He mocks Claudius, comments on Gertrude's appearance in a harsh manner saying that there is "metal more attractive" (3.2.97), and also makes jokes and innuendos towards Ophelia (basically taunting and teasing her to make her feel embarassed/guilty). 

The play begins with a scene between the King and Queen. Talking about their 30 years of marriage and how great it has been. The queen promises that she will never marry again if the king passes but he responds saying that promises are broken. But the queen insists on he promise that she will never remarry when he dies. Then the reenactment of the kings death begins, as Hamlet makes commentary urging his mother and uncle to feel guilty because he knows they know what the play is resembling. When the king in the play is murdered with the poison in the ear, Claudius abruptly stops the play and Hamlet knows officially that his uncle murdered his father. Hamlet knows he must seek revenge for his father. Claudius fears that Hamlet is becoming dangerous and too violent, so he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England. Hamlet furious about seeking revenge, decides to go and threaten his mother. Polonious decides to spy on them for Claudius. 

Claudius decides to pray after the play when he is left alone. He begs for divine mercy for killing his brother. He begs that God should, "forgive me my foul murder"(3.3.53) and that his "fault is past" (3.3.52). Hamlet enters seeing Claudius so vulenerable, begging and praying for forgiveness. He questions whether or not he should murder Claudius right then and there. But as he nears Claudius to avenge his father, he stops.