Hamlet

Act 3, Sc. 2, Lines 1-25: What does Hamlet mean by the following words, and why does he want to emphasize that for this play?

"...The purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now,

was and is to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature;..."

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Last updated by jill d #170087
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Hamlet's intent is to have the players recreate the death of his father.... he wants the acting to mirror Claudius' part in Old Hamlet's death. He wants Claudius to understand the meaning behind the scene in question. In this way, Hamlet believes he can ascertain for certain that Claudius is guilty.

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Hamlet