. In response to the King's inquiry as to the name of the performance, Hamlet replies:"The Mousetrap. Marry, how? Tropically. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna. Gonzago is the Duke'sname; his wife, Baptista. You shall see anon. 'Tis a knavishpiece of work, but what o' that? Your Majesty, and we thathave free souls, it touches us not. Let the galled jadewince, our withers are unwrung." (Hamlet Act III sc.ii)Upon the completion of The Mousetrap, visible facial and behavioural expressions expose the noless than guilty King Claudius. Seemingly successful, Hamlet once again hesitates to kill. Couldsomething be said of this unnecessary passive nature? It is difficult to say. What remains quite clear isthat Hamlet determined once again, that the timing was not justified. His concern was the people andthe Entire State of Denmark in addition to his own clarification in the probability that the Ghost wasreal. As a result of the overwhelming suggestion in The Mousetrap, Claudius, ironically a man of justicehimself, seeks forgiveness from God. Coincidentally, Hamlet overhears Claudius admit in his ownwords, the guilt in that which King Claudius lived. "O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven / A brother's murder. / My Stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, / May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?" (Claudius Act III sc.iii)In actuality, it is possible to argue that Hamlet had accumulated enou...
