It is a Failure!
It is obvious that through the staging of "The Mousetrap" Hamlet wishes to discover whether Claudius, in fact, did murder his father. The result, however, can only be classified as a failure. It can be said that Claudius rose from his chair and thus revealing his guilt, but, come on, seriously? Can we really condemn a guy for simply rising in his chair?
So, is it a success? No. All that we learn from this play-within-a-play is that Hamlet is, for lack of a better term, a disrespectful jerk. He does not stop making a spectacle of himself during the entire scene. He yells things at the stage. He says lots of rather inappropriate things to Ophelia. He is malicious and disparaging to his own mother, and basically, rather than letting the play unfold, he hints to Claudius what is actually going on. The original plan was to catch the King's conscience through the play. Instead, the focus becomes Hamlet's behaviour. And what does this result in? The people of Denmark are concerned about Hamlet, NOT the king.
Art Contrasting with Life
It is no coincidence that Hamlet chose The Murder of Gonzago to be the play that is shown at court. A king with an apparently devoted wife who is murdered, while asleep in his garden, by a relative who pours poison in his ears, and wins the love of the queen by giving her gifts. However, Hamlet does not see it simply this way. Not only does he want to use it to catch Claudius (see above), but he also seemingly uses it to insult his mother. There is no denying that Gertrude did marry quite quickly after her husband had died...and to her brother (legally, not biologically). What we mustn't forget, however, is the fact that she is a woman, and her choices would be limited. It was not uncommon back in those days for a new king to "dispose" of any potential nuisances. So Gertrude, ultimately, is playing it safe. Which brings us to the Player Queen, who shows her devotion to her husband with many quotes of affection like
"Oh confound the rest!
Such love must be treason in my breast.
In second husband let me accursed!
None wed the second but who killed the first." (3.2.365-368)
Bold words, and for Hamlet, they are harsh. Poor Gertrude, as we can safely assume that she had nothing to do with Old Hamlet's death, yet is being placed in the same column as Claudius. Her opinion of the play, when challenged by Hamlet, is met with more curses and derision from her son. But, ultimately, despite us feeling bad for Gertrude in some respect, the words spoken between the Player King and the Player Queen are "wormwood" as they are very much the opposite of what Gertrude and Old Hamlet are. But, as said earlier, who's fault is that?
The Play-within-a-Play changes the Play
A bit of a mouthful, but, here is the question? Why? Why would Shakespeare do this? Starting at the end of Act II, with the arrival of the players, the next couple of scenes are literally a sideshow. The Players do not further the plot, nor is there any plot whatsoever. It is metatheatre, and whether Shakespeare was getting paid by the word for this one, it is a widely entertaining but utterly unnecessary section of the play. Basically, with the players, Shakespeare is presenting his opinion towards theatre and how actors should act. Good info for a drama class, but do not forget the audience he was writing this for. It, in many ways, is just out of place.
Life is a Stage
But, at the same time, it can be seen as some philosophical thought from Shakespeare. Shakespeare was likely a subscriber to the idea "Life is all a stage, and we are actors on this stage." Similar to the Walt Whitman and now iPad line "That you are here - that life exists and identity, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse." So, with Shakespeare exploring these ideas, he combines drama with life, leading us to look at our own life as that of an actor. In what ways is life like a stage? What verse will you contribute?
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