The Mousetrap Play Reveals Claudius's Guilt and He Flees — Hamlet

During the performance of 'The Mousetrap,' the Player King is poisoned in his ear while sleeping in a garden, mirroring the Ghost's account of King Hamlet's murder. As Hamlet narrates the action and identifies the murderer as Lucianus who 'poisons him i' th'garden for's estate,' Claudius abruptly rises from his seat. The King demands light and flees the room in obvious distress, with Polonius ordering the play stopped and all courtiers following Claudius out. Left alone with Horatio, Hamlet triumphantly declares 'I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound,' confirming that Horatio also observed Claudius's guilty reaction to the poisoning scene.

Claudius's violent reaction to the play provides Hamlet with the concrete proof he has sought since encountering the Ghost, transforming his suspicion into certainty and justifying his planned revenge. The King's public loss of composure marks a turning point in the play's action, as Hamlet moves from investigation and delay into a position of knowledge and power. This moment validates the Ghost's testimony and eliminates Hamlet's fear that the spirit might be a demon sent to deceive him into committing murder.