Another way

[minjaeyang]

In Hamlet, Hamlet tries to prove that his uncle was really his father's killer by making a play similar to the situation where his father was killed. Hamlet plans to see Claudius's reaction to this play. However I think it would have been a lot better if Hamlet rationally told everyone what he thinks had happened instead of acting crazy or making plays. It would be a lot more convincing if Hamlet had used logic.

Do you think this was a good idea? Do you think there are other ways to prove Claudius killed Hamlet's father?

[jessicashim2013]

hmm.. but right now, Hamlet is not hundred percent sure that Claudius killed his father. If he tells everyone that Cluadius is the murderer, no one would believe him. They would think that he is going crazy. Hamlet does not even have evidence to prove it. It would just make him look like a wierd kid who hates his step dad. Unless the ghost appears again and tells the queen and his friends there wouldn't be any way to prove the King's death.

[elijahlee]

I think that this is actually a pretty good idea. Imagine, if you killed someone, and the same exact situation and method in which you took to kill that person was shown right in front of you through a play. That would freak me out, and I would definitely have a reaction that I could not control give me away.

[joannekim]

I think acting crazy and showing the play was a good idea. Showing the play and watching the king's reaction would not cause much trouble and allow Hamlet to check his guess at the same time. Since most people think he is mad, they would not imagine that he is planning something. However, openly speaking his opinions out would make the king and his people watch Hamlet closely. It seems like being direct even to close people is dangerous in the Danish court, which is full of trickery.

[sang]

I think that if Hamlet just recited what he has seen to his king, then he would've also seen some signs of Guilt in Claudius's eyes and detected that he lied. Because it's essentially the same idea and concept as showing the action again in a play, except that it's more direct. So, unless Claudius was an incredible liar, I think that this method would've also worked brilliantly.

[sageda]

I wonder if Claudius had a diary entry from or a person he talked to that day. I would love to just fling his diary entries in his face as I watch the guards drag him away. After I read it out loud in front of the whole royal court, of course.

[RegXD]

I think what hamlet did was a good idea but not convincing enough to say that claudius killed hamlets father. Because there's less witness to say confirm it. But another way which is spy on claudius and when he is vulnerable than catch him and his guilt or something.

[juliekim]

I don't think that would have been wise of him to do. Even if I were a third person, I wouldn't believe Hamlet if he said that he saw a ghost of his father tell him that his uncle murdered him. It would look like he has other motives too since he's the prince. Everyone would think that he wants to get rid of his uncle so he'd be the king. And what proof is there that his uncle killed the king? Unless he has solid proof that he did it would be to his disadvantage if he told everybody about the truth.

[cathysjun]

I think Hamlet chose the best option he had. He could not have told his situation logically because the situation itself is not logical. No one would have believed Hamlet if he honestly told his friends his plan and about the stuff that the ghost told him. Very few people actually believe in ghosts. Also if he did some how convice a few people and told them his plan there is always a possibility for them to tell other people intentionally or unintentionally. If that happened there would be a higher chance of the king knowing, ruining Hamlet's whole plan. So I think Hamlet chose the best option he had.

[minchoi0923]

I also think this was not a good idea because anyone can react the way Claudius did when they see a play that Hamlet came up with. Even if it was true or not, the whole play was intended to offend Claudius and Claudius would definitely have felt uncomfortable while watching this play even if he had not killed his brother. I think it would have been just better to get some detectives or gather more clues rather than just seeing the reactions of Claudius.

[franicaza95]

to be honest, in a situation like this, where you are just willing to do almost anything to prove that this person was the one who killed your father, i would do almost anything. Maybe it was a good idea because it could cause Claudious to accidentally turn himself in.

[hannahs]

I think what Hamlet did was actually more logical. Hamlet didn't know for sure whether Claudius killed his father or not and this was a way for him to test it out. How would telling other people what he thinks prove whether he is right or not. Also, if he told people he saw a ghost they will automatically assume that he is crazy so he wouldn't even have to act crazy. Telling other people can really go wrong since Claudius is the king.

[rebeccahan0613]

I think Hamlet's plan (using the play) is quite logical. I mean I don't think anyone would have believed Hamlet's accusation that Claudius murdered his father. People would have simply thought that Hamlet is over-thinking and tell him that he is just having a hard time coping with his father's death. Also, since Claudius is the king, it would be even harder for people to agree with Hamlet because wouldn't hthat be like treason? I don't know for sure but I don't think anyone would want to accuse the king of murdering the previous king. And I think HAmlet is aware of the situation so he is trying to his best to make sure that Claudius killed his father and get proof. Accusation without any proof will be meaningless and invalid.

[yerin0727]

I actually think that the idea of making the play that depicted Claudius' murder was a good idea. There may have been more logical ways to make Claudius feel guilty, but I think that this method was quite simple and understanding. Instead of directly talking of his faults, by making him watch the play that showed his previous actions, it may have made Claudius feel guiltier.

[sujeonggg]

I also don't think that acting crazy is a good idea. He then needs to calculate all the plans, acting crazy for sometime and being normal for sometime. I think it's just too complicated. And I believe that he is not completely normal either to calculate or pretend to trick people. I think he should've just find someone to speak all his minds and put down his too-heavy burdens. He now learned all the facts about his fahter's death and tries to make plans for revenge PLUS his father's death itself and his mom's quick remarriage to his uncle.