Act III, Scene iii
Synopsis of Hamlet Act III scene iii
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern assure Claudius that the King's safety is of paramount importance. They are 
given the job of escorting Hamlet to England.
Polonius suggests that he should hide in Gertrude's room to listen to her meeting with Hamlet.
When alone, Claudius tries to pray. He knows that he needs to repent of the dreadful sin of a brother's murder, but he cannot. Hamlet enters and sees Claudius praying. Unaware that Claudius is unable to repent, Hamlet decides not to kill him at this point in case his soul goes to heaven.
Commentary on Hamlet Act III scene iii
The cease of majesty dies not alone — the life of the Ruler is an embodiment of the welfare of the state. (See Act I scene iii, and also Religious/philosophical context: Divine right of kings).
And as you said — in fact Polonius made the suggestion that Gertrude should send for Hamlet and that Polonius should spy on the meeting (see Act III scene ii). However, Polonius uses this as a chance to flatter the King: ‘and wisely was it said'.
The primal eldest curse — the first murder in the Bible is that of Abel, killed by his brother Cain, who was then cursed. The Ghost had described fratricide — murder of a brother — as particularly ‘unnatural' in Act I scene v. (See Big Ideas: Cain and Abel)
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens … Whereto serves mercy? — throughout this speech Claudius is aware that, however sinful humans may be, they have, through the self-sacrifice of Christ, the Son of God, been offered the chance of redemption (being saved).
More on real repentance: God's forgiveness is offered freely to those who repent, but, because he does not want to give up Gertrude and the Danish throne, Claudius knows that he is not really sorry that he killed his brother. He is aware that true repentance can wipe out all sin, but is equally aware that he is only saying the words of repentance, not really feeling them in his heart. (For further information, see Big ideas: Penitence, repentance, penance)
'Tis not so above. / There is no shuffling — when Claudius comes to judgement before God, he knows that he will not be able to pretend or to hide his guilt.
And so he goes to heaven — Hamlet assumes that Claudius is repenting, and is in a state of grace, unlike Old Hamlet who was killed before he had time to repent. Hamlet wants Claudius to go to hell, and so decides not to kill him at this point.
My words fly up — As Hamlet leaves, the audience learn that Hamlet was wrong: Claudius has been unable to pray. Hamlet has missed another opportunity to take his revenge.
Investigating Hamlet Act III scene iii
- Look carefully at Claudius' soliloquy.
- What impression do we have of him?
- Why might Shakespeare show us a murderer who feels racked by guilt?
- Look at Hamlet's speech when he finds Claudius praying. Is his desire to send Claudius to hell:
- a valid and equitable justice?
- or a vindictive desire to continue vengeance beyond the grave?
- or could it simply be an excuse for Hamlet to prevaricate yet again?
Communication, either aloud or in the heart, with God.
The act of turning away, or turning around from, one's sins, which includes feeling genuinely sorry for them, asking for the forgiveness of God and being willing to live in a different way in the future.
Disobedience to the known will of God. According to Christian theology human beings have displayed a pre-disposition to sin since the Fall of Humankind.
The spirit which gives life to a human being; the part which lives on after death; a person's inner being (personality, intellect, emotions and will) which distinguishes them from animals.
In many religions, the place where God dwells, and to which believers aspire after their death. Sometimes known as Paradise.
The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament, drawn from writings produced from c.40-125CE, which describe the life of Jesus and the establishment of the Christian church.
The second son of Adam and Eve and first murder victim in the Bible.
The firstborn son of Adam and Eve. His killing in jealousy of his brother Abel is the first murder described in the Bible, for which Cain was cursed.
1. The giving up of something deeply valued
2. Offerings a worshipper gives to God to express devotion, gratitude, or the need for forgiveness.
3. In the Bible, the sacrifice is seen to take away guilt and blame.
Title (eventually used as name) given to Jesus, refering to an anointed person set apart for a special task such as a king.
Title used of Jesus in the New Testament and in Christian statements of belief.
In Christian belief, the redemption of humanity was achieved by Jesus who in his death on the cross made a complete sacrifice sufficient to pay for the sins of the world.
1. The action of forgiving; pardon of a fault, remission of a debt.
2. Being freed from the burden of guilt, after committing a sin or crime, through being pardoned by the one hurt or offended.
The act of turning away, or turning around from, one's sins, which includes feeling genuinely sorry for them, asking for the forgiveness of God and being willing to live in a different way in the future.
The act of turning away, or turning around from, one's sins, which includes feeling genuinely sorry for them, asking for the forgiveness of God and being willing to live in a different way in the future.
1. Wisdom.
2. A decision about guilt, and / or the passing of sentence by the person presiding over a court of justice.
3. In the Bible, God's verdict on human behaviour especially on the Day of Judgement at the end of time.
A human being is in a state of grace when cleansed of sin by penitence and forgiveness, and conscious of having received the undeserved mercy of God.
Jesus describes hell as the place where Satan and his demons reside and the realm where unrepentant souls will go after the Last Judgement.
An act of retaliation for a real or imagined injury, in which the revenger sees him or herself as entitled to carry out their own idea of justice and to take the law into their own hands.
