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Well...
Written by Laraine
(6/3/2003 10:27 a.m.)
in consequence of the missive, GR: Gertrude's guilt, not Claudius', penned by Cheryl
I think the insult to his mother is plausible as a reason for Claudius' anger, but I'm not convinced that no one in the court could be expected to figure out what Hamlet is really up to. The prince is at some pains to act as "Chorus" and point out all the similarities between the play and the situation at Elsinore. He makes a rather large deal of the fact that there is "no offense" in the play, and that such people as himself and Claudius, who have clear consciences, could take no offense. He's sent the King into a towering rage, and you'd think they'd at least be curious as to why. It's "upon the talk of the poisoning" that Claudius loses it, not when they are talking about the fidelity of Gonzago's wife. The play is called "The Murder of Gonzago" -- and "infidelity" doesn't come up when they are discussing the play's "offense." I think they're just unable to hear and see what's been put in front of them fairly clearly. They should be able to get it. Such intrigue was not, after all, unheard of--at least the Italians had heard of it :) |

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