after hearing the ghost’s tale,Hamlet appears to be ready to attempt a clear, rational path of action. But, rememberingthat he must meet with his mother, he reminds himself to be gentle with her.Hamlet is now apparently at his peak: Claudius has been “convicted,” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been put in their place, Polonius has been made a foolof, and the ghost has been vindicated. Hamlet has truly been acting in a play all along andall the pieces are finally fitting together. Hamlet has run out of excuses, at least up until hecomes upon Claudius trying to pray, and he has learned what he needs to know throughhis manipulations. It is Hamlet’s rapid shift from role to role that allows him to get whathe needs to know. It also allows the reader to fully understand the differences in Hamlet’sbehavior as he interacts with each character. It is no wonder that the character of Hamlethas fascinated people for centuries, he could be a cast of characters by himself. The playscene highlights the significance of each role and what purpose it serves in Hamlet’s questfor truth and revenge. ...
