Discuss the events that unfold because of the performance by the visiting players in Hamlet.

As a result of the players' performance of "The Murder of
Gonzago," the first action that affects the course of Hamlet is
that Claudius rises from his seat and calls for light and exits the scene (Act 3, sc.
2).  This action proves to Hamlet that Claudius is guilty of killing Hamlet's father
just as the ghost had described because Claudius' reaction was proof of guilt.  Hamlet
tells Horatio that he is sure now that the ghost was telling the truth, so now Hamlet
realizes he must kill Claudius in order to fulfill his promise to the ghost of his
father to get revenge.  After some mad raving in front of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
Hamlet encounters Claudius in the chapel seemingly in prayer (Act 3, sc. 3).  Hamlet
decides not to take advantage of the opportunity to kill Claudius there because he
thinks Claudius is praying and he does not want Claudius to have the chance to be
absolved of his sins and go to heaven.  Hamlet then goes to his mother's room (Act 4,
sc. 4) where he has a very emotional encounter with her regarding her actions since her
husband, his father, died.  Here, he hears a noise behind the arras and thrusts his
rapier into the tapestry, killing Poloinus who was hiding there to try to find out what
was bothering Hamlet.  He reveals to his mother also, that he has seen, and sees, his
father's ghost.  He tells his mother how to act around Claudius and that she should
trust him to have a plan.  As a result of her father's death in this scene, Ophelia is
driven mad and in her madness is incapable of helping herself when she falls into the
water and drowns (Act 4, sc. 7).  The death of his father drives Laertes to want
Hamlet's death and that desire is further solidified by his sister's death.  Claudius
uses Laertes' anger to help him get rid of Hamlet.  This then does, indeed, bring about
Hamlet's death.  All of the steps that Claudius and Laertes use to ensure Hamlet's death
in the duel though, also bring about the deaths of Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius.  The
play performed by the players impacts the rest of the play,
Hamlet.