Why is the idea of playing a role or acting a part so important to hamlet over the course of the play? how does role-playing affect several major events in the plot and the relationships between various characters?

The playing of roles is one of, if not the most important themes in the play. It is a central prompt forac±on in the play because it triggers a mul±tude of diFering events. Hamlets perceived insanity is theresult of an act put on by King Claudius and Queen Gertrude. The King and Queen are both playingrather signi²cant roles of their own by pretending to be innocent and benevolent when they were in fact the ones who killed the king (Hamlet’s father). The act that they put on is of prime importance inthe play because it has a rather large impact on many events that happen later on— their very act of innocence is what pushes Hamlet towards an act of insanity.

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