“Give me some light. Away!” – What causes the speaker to make this statement? When he sees the actor pour poison in the other actor’s ear, Claudius is reminded about how he killed his own brother. Hamlet almost decides to kill king Claudius then he sees Claudius kneeling and praying.

In lines 88–95, Claudius delivers news the audience has not yet heard. What is this news? Ophelia’s death and the unjust way they buried Polonius. Claudius reveals that Laertes has returned from France and is hearing many rumors.

The play was made to make King Claudius own up to what he did. This, in a way, is Hamlet’s revenge on Claudius for him killing his father. Their meeting is about the play Hamlet put on. Claudius is outraged by his madness and he wants Hamlet to return to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet does not kill Claudius when he assumes that he is praying because he doesn’t want Claudius to have the luxury of going to heaven while his father, unjustly murdered, suffers in hell. He doesn’t want to do Claudius the “favor” of sending him to heaven.

He longs to ask for forgiveness, but says that he is unprepared to give up that which he gained by committing the murder, namely, the crown and the queen. He falls to his knees and begins to pray. Claudius rises and declares that he has been unable to pray sincerely: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below” (III.

Through Claudius soliloquy, Shakespeare reveals Claudius’s inner character and further characterizes his disposition, though the remorse he feels is not for his slain brother but for the consequences he faces because of it. Shakespeare is able to depict Claudius’s internal conflict and how it reflects his character.

Of course, the moment is perfect when Claudius is praying. Luckily, the intelligent Hamlet thinks of yet another excuse to avoid committing an act which is so out of his character. Yes, he is praying, and yes, he will go to heaven.

What is the effect of Claudius’ soliloquy? In his soliloquy he talks about the guilt he feels, he doesnt want to ask for forgiveness. But he gets down on his knees to pray for forgiveness anyway. He questions if he can be forgiven because he wont give up Gertrude or his power.

In this soliloquy, Claudius confesses the deed and recoils at its smell. It is “rank” (that is, “rancid”), so rank that the vile odor wafts all the way to heaven. So while Claudius is metaphorical about the “smell” of his deed, he is grimly literal about heaven’s reaction.

‘O, My Offence Is Rank It Smells To Heaven’, Spoken by Claudius, Act 3 Scene 3.

What does Claudius do that makes Hamlet hesitate killing him? He is praying for forgiveness. Because he doesn’t want Claudius to go to heaven.

To be or seem extremely disreputable, suspicious, or corrupt. This deal between the company and the mayor’s office smells to high heaven, if you ask me. This town smelled to high heaven before I came in and brought some law and order to it.

‘O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven’ definitively confirms Claudius’ guilt for the first time in Hamlet. Claudius begins his soliloquy by describing his ‘offence’ – killing his brother, Old Hamlet – as ‘rank’, i.e. foul-smelling and offensive.

The idea of a smell so bad it reaches to the sky and beyond makes this idiom quite effective in conveying its general idea. However, its original use during the 17th century was to describe not foul smells but foul situations.

A villain kills my father, and I, my father’s only son, send this same villain to heaven. Seems like I just did him a favor. He killed my father when my father was enjoying life, with all his sins in full bloom, before my father could repent for any of them. Only God knows how many sins my father has to pay for.

Why, look you now how unworthy a thing you make of me: you would play upon me. You would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart of my mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to my compass. And there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ.

MyShakespeare | Hamlet 3.3 States of the Soul With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, And how his audit stands, who knows, save heaven? But in our circumstance and course of thought, ‘Tis heavy with him.

A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (III. III. 75-79). Hamlet is telling the audience here that he’d better think about this more carefully.

It is seen both fake and real. Hamlet uses “madness” as a disguise, allowing him to get the information he needs about Claudius’ actions. He also uses it as an excuse for his actions, mainly Polonius’ murder.

Claudius is saying that his hands are covered with the blood of his brother and asks “Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow” he is saying that he cant get it off, that his hands are stained forever with his blood and he will never be forgiven for his sin as it was a terrible crime to …

Hamlet

– “the primal eldest curse” –> Biblical allusion to Adam and Eve’s two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel, and so a curse was set upon his whole household, making all of his descendants marked. In this quote, Claudius argues that his murdering his brother was marked by this notorious curse.

§ Simile: “bosom black as death” – meaning that Claudius asking for forgiveness is terrible; the worst thing you could do. o “Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay!”

How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. How stand I then, That have a father kill’d, a mother stain’d, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep?

Hamlet reveals his thoughts and says, “And am I then revenged to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No” (3.3. 89-92). Here, Hamlet is asking himself if killing the king while in prayer is sufficient enough to fill his need of revenge.

The whole play focuses a lot on the idea of repentance. Hamlet is very concerned with this whole concept, often making choices and judging situations based on whether or not someone has repented before death. Hamlet’s father is in purgatory because he did not repent before he was murdered.

Claudius kills his brother mainly because of jealousy, the crown, the queen and a hatred of his brother. Therefore Claudius is guilty of the murder of his brother. Claudius feels guilty about killing his brother. We can see Claudius;s remorse when he is talking to God and gives his monologue about his his murder.