In the midst of the tragic tale of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark the audience is allowed a second escape into the play within the play. Yet in Hamlet’s play theater is used as a tool rather than primarily for entertainment as with Shakespeare. Hamlet employees a troop of actors to help him with his cause which can be described as more of an interrogation and conviction ceremony than a play.Hamlet chooses to express artistic license as the director of his production of “The Murder of Gonzago.” He changes the play just a bit to help strengthen the correlation he wishes to make to King Claudius.
The importance of Hecuba’s speech is to enforce Hamlets distaste of his mother, Queen Gertrude’s hasty union to Claudius without what Hamlet feels was an appropriate period of morning. Hecuba is noticeably over her husbands passing and it can be seen and heard in her words. Hamlet uses this to help highlight how his mother should be reacting.
Lastly I would argue that theater doesn’t necessarily hold a mirror to reality. There are many theater productions that have no resemblance to reality at all take Cats for example. I will however point out that as for the actors part in a production I feel that it is his or her job to play each part with as much authenticity as possible. What I mean is that each actor should be as true as possible to the emotion that aught to be portrayed in each situation that their character faces.
ty talley 
Hi Ty,
I liked reading your blog post. I specifically liked the last paragraph. I agree with your thoughts about how theater does not mirror reality. It is more of the actual characters of the play rather than reality. Cats was a good example to use. I don’t go out everyday seeing people dressed as cats, dancing and singing everywhere.
Otilio Carranza
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Hi Ty,
I agree with you that the play inside a play is used as a tool in order to confirm King Claudius’s guilt. Hamlet wanted to be sure of what the ghost has said before taking action. I like how you described the play as an “interrogation” and “conviction” ceremony because that is exactly what it is. He interrogates King Claudius through this play so that his true intentions remain unknown. I wonder what you mean in your first sentence when you say ” the audience is allowed a second escape into the play within the play. Do you mean the audience as in the characters in “Hamlet” or as in us, the readers of “Hamlet”. I think it could be interpreted as both. “The Murder of Gonzago” could be an escape for the court of Denmark from the recent death of King Hamlet. It could also be a way of relief for us, the audience of the outer play Hamlet. Throughout the whole play, the knowledge of King Hamlet’s murder stays between Prince Hamlet and the readers. The play provides the relief of finally revealing a long kept secret.
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Greetings Ty,
First of all, you have a good response to this blog prompt especially the last paragraph. Now that I think about it, you do bring up some good points about theater not holding a mirror to reality since some theaters modify the play they are presenting in their own ways if that makes sense. For example, most directors put their own understanding on what the play is suppose to portray and in effort show the audience what the play is really about. Keep up the good work!.
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