Question

What does Hamlet mean when he says, "The play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King" (The last twelve lines of Act II, Scene 2 will help you explain the meaning.)?

Answer 1

He wants to make the King look guilty.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is what Hamlet means when he states that he will stage a play in order to catch the king. Hamlet wants to stage a play that carefully resembles what he believes happened between the former King Hamlet and the current King Claudius. Hamlet believes that the king will be shocked when watching the play, and this will allow Hamlet to catch him.