In Act III of Hamlet, “The Mouse Trap” is performed which aids in developing the theme of corruption. When the act opens, Hamlet’s excitement for the players performance in the play later that evening is addressed which causes Claudius to agree to attend the performance. Perhaps Hamlet is so eager for the play to begin to observe how Claudius reacts when watching the events in the play pan out exactly how his father's murder occurred. In the reenactment of “The Mouse Trap” the king and queen enter the stage to begin. It is asserted that they have been married for 30 years, and the queen states that she hopes their love will last long. The king then falls asleep as the queen exits the stage. The king's nephew, Lucianus, enters and pours poison
