By ending his life in mid-confession, Hamlet would allow the King to go straight to heaven by virtue of his cleansed soul. His Christian morality informs him that because the King appears to pray, he is probably confessing. Hamlet reaches for his sword, and the ambiguity shifts to Hamlet. Hamlet enters as the King kneels with his back toward Hamlet. "But oh, what form of prayer / can serve my turn?" Claudius knows that he will never abdicate the throne, nor will he give up Gertrude and all "those effects for which I did murder," such as his power and position. He likens himself to Cain, the primal or first murderer, and admits that he cannot bring himself to ask for God's mercy.
![hamlet act 3 hamlet act 3](http://www.pixelsandpedagogy.com/uploads/1/9/0/4/19045649/9989493_orig.jpg)
Then, kneeling in prayer before sleeping, the King confesses the depth and severity of his crime. He conspires with Polonius to spy on Hamlet yet again. He identifies Hamlet as his enemy and plots to have him dispatched to England. Claudius would escape the eternal punishment that is his due.įrom the top of the scene, any ambiguity concerning Claudius' character disappears. Believing that Claudius is praying for forgiveness, Hamlet knows that by killing Claudius now, he would send the King straight to heaven. He remembers that Claudius killed King Hamlet without allowing him any opportunity to make amends for his sins, and that King Hamlet now languishes in purgatory awaiting entry to heaven. He recognizes his perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, but stops himself. Hamlet enters and sees Claudius in prayer. He begs instead that some divine assistance might bow his knees and soften his heart so that he can ask for forgiveness. He admits before God that he has committed the "primal eldest curse" by carrying out his "brother's murder." He admits that his contrition is unforgivable since he is unwilling to give up the spoils of his ill-won battles.
![hamlet act 3 hamlet act 3](https://shakespeare-navigators.com/hamlet/GiveLightGilbert.jpg)
Promising to report back to Claudius before Claudius retires to bed, Polonius leaves.Ĭlaudius then prays at his private altar, although he says his sin is so great that it renders him incapable of praying. They leave, and Polonius enters to inform the King that Hamlet is on his way to Gertrude and that Polonius plans to hide there and eavesdrop on the conversation. The men agree, acknowledging that any threat to Claudius is a threat to the people of Denmark, so they will keep Denmark safe by removing Hamlet from its shores.
![hamlet act 3 hamlet act 3](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4c/c2/6e/4cc26e4f20b7b607a5e2eeaee3396cce.jpg)
Fearing that Hamlet is a threat to his life and throne, the King summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and instructs them to hurry and take Hamlet to England.