Final answer:
King Claudius's reaction to the play 'The Murder of Gonzago' in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' indicates his guilt over murdering his brother, as his distressed response to the dramatization of his crime serves to catch his conscience.
Step-by-step explanation:
King Claudius's reaction to 'The Murder of Gonzago' proves that he is guilty. In the play 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, Hamlet stages a play called 'The Murder of Gonzago' to replicate his father's death and observe Claudius's reaction. When Claudius sees the play, which mirrors the actual events of his crime, his conscience cannot bear the portrayal, and he reacts with visible distress. This reaction suggests his guilt over having murdered his brother to seize the throne. This display of guilt is an example of what's often referred to as the 'play within a play' mechanism used by Hamlet to 'catch the conscience of the King.'