Final answer:
Claudius's abrupt departure during the play in Act 3, scene 2 of 'Hamlet' suggests a guilty conscience revealed by the parallels to his own actions, as Hamlet uses the play to confirm his uncle's guilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abrupt exit of Claudius from the play within a play in Hamlet, during Act 3, scene 2, can be best inferred as evidence of his guilty conscience feeling exposed. The play staged by Hamlet is a strategic move to 'catch the conscience of the King'. Claudius's departure at the point where the plot of the play parallels the murder of Hamlet's father implies that the performance has disturbed him deeply, confirming Hamlet's suspicions of Claudius's guilt in the regicide.
Hamlet, in his pursuit to reveal the truth, understands the burden of emotion that cannot be directly voiced or acted upon, a theme that resonates throughout the play and contributes to the richness of its psychological complexity. Claudius's reaction to the play serves as a psychological validation for Hamlet, whose struggle with action and inaction is a central theme.