y. Thus, through Hamlet’s imposed fiction, the Murderof Gonzago, he will reflect the truth. This is the irony of Hamlet’s manipulations. Another ironic twist is that while Hamlet will reflect the truth of others, he will mask hisown truth with riddling statements and jokes, Hamlet’s truth being his knowledge ofClaudius’ crime. In the end, the king breaks down and Hamlet’s ploy is successful. It ishis text that the players, the court, the king, and the queen all play. He is the master ofreality, making his will prevail (Nevo 52). As the scene is broken down, the first role that is seen, besides the manipulator, isHamlet the critic. This role emerges as Hamlet is speaking to the players. One will noticethat his feigned or unfeigned, depending on opinion, madness in earlier scenes has beenreplaced by calmness and rationality. He speaks as a well-educated nobleman who strivesfor classical balance in life. Hamlet wants the players to be moderate and natural in theirdepiction’s of life, not exaggerated, yet not dull. The speech that Hamlet gives the playerscan also show that Hamlet can only find the balance and the ordered universe he seeks infiction. This is one of the three sections of this scene where it can be argued that Hamlet’strue self peaks out. This may be the case because, with the players who are not involved inhis real life, Hamlet can be at ease and at his best. After the players leave, Hamlet is left alone with Horatio. His remarks to Horatioreveal his feelings for him. This is the second time Hamlet’s true self emerges and admitsthat he is truly Horatio’s good friend: ...and blest are those whose blood and judgment are so well commingled that they are not a pipe for fortune’s finger to sound what stop she please. Give me that man that is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him in my heart’s core, aye, in my heart of heart, as I do thee ...
