                The Tragedy of Hamlet
    Just at that moment, a troop of actors, Hamlet's acquaintances, arrived in the capital of Denmark. As Hamlet welcomed them, an idea suddenly came to his mind. He could use the performance to help uncover Claudius' secret. So he told his acquaintances to prepare a stage performance. After the rehearsal, he invited the king, the queen, and Ophelia to come and see the performance. He also invited his best friend Horatio to come and watch the response of Claudius. During the performance the prince continued his pretence of insanity and Ophelia lovingly held his head upon her thighs. The prince watched the king's reaction secretly during the performance. The story was about a murder in Vienna. According to the story, the Duke of Cornelius felt tired one day and lay resting in the palace garden. His nephew seized the opportunity to poison his uncle in his sleep and thereby obtained the throne. Then he married the wife of the Duke. At that point, Claudius could bear no more. He stood up suddenly and spoke loudly, "Light the fire and return to the palace." Hamlet and Horatio exchanged glances and agreed the ghost had told them the truth. King Claudius was the real murderer! Hamlet declared, "I will avenge my father!"
    As Hamlet was considering how to proceed, Claudius was also hatching a plot against him. Claudius suggested to the queen that she summon the prince and rebuke him for his ridiculous behavior. Angry about the performance also, she agreed. 
