Claudius Soliloquy Act 3 Scene 3

Summary of Passage

- Claudius feels guilty for murdering his brother. His conscience is bothering him because of Hamlet's play.

-He is struggling to repent because he likes being king and everything that comes along with it.

-Its hard to apologize when you are rewarded for the crime you committed.

-He cannot pray seriously for forgiveness from God as he would commit this crime again if given the choice.

Key Lines

Line 51: "My fault is past. But oh, what form of prayer can serve my turn, "forgive me my foul murder?"

Line 53 :"That cannot be, since I am still possessed

of those effects for which I did the murder: my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen."

Line 69: "Help, angels. Make assay. Bow, stubborn knees, and, heart with strings of steel, be soft as sinews of the newborn babe."

Line 97: "(rises) My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go"

Situation

-His conscience is bothering him due to the play Hamlet produced.

-The play included a similar plot and actions to the crime he committed by murdering his own brother, the old King Hamlet.

-Watching the play reminded him of his immoral actions and cause him to struggle to repent.

Exploration

-Although he feels guilty, he enjoys the rewards that he received, like the kingship and the queen.

-He would commit the crime again, despite what his conscience tells him is wrong, and therefore cannot pray and atone for his sins.

Resolution

- Claudius is aware that G-d knows of his crimes.

-The Great Chain of Being is out of order ,causing wreckage and disorder in Denmark.

- This is due to Claudius' usurpation of the throne from his brother. He is not the rightful king.

-Claudius wanted to have a clear conscience but likes the crown and Gertrude too much to give it up.

-He resolves to pray, despite the futility, and does not mean it.

Poetic Devices

Allusion:

"It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,

A brother’s murder."

This is an allusion to Cain and Abel which references the first murder between brothers in the bible.

Rhetorical question:

"Forgive me my foul murder?..."

Claudius is asking for forgiveness from God for the sin he committed but he knows he will not be forgiven as he is enjoying the benefits of kingship.

Dramatic Irony:

The audience knows Claudius isn't praying and asking for forgiveness but Hamlet doesn't know this and refuses/misses his chance to kill him as he think it will give Claudius a chance to go to heaven. He wants a chance to kill him while he is sinning so that he goes to hell. The audience knows Hamlet missed his best chance before everything escalates.

Themes

Appearance vs. Reality -

Throughout Claudius' soliloquy he references praying and asking for forgiveness. At the same time he admits to not actually repenting. When Hamlet walks in and sees Claudius on his knees he assumes he is praying to God for forgiveness. Hamlet decides not to kill him at this time, even though it would have been the perfect opportunity, because Hamlet believes Claudius is being sincere. If he was being sincere, Claudius could go to heaven. Hamlet wants to send him to hell so he needs to kill him during an act of sin. Claudius appears to be praying but in reality he does not truly mean what he is saying, meaning that his soul would have gone to hell had Hamlet killed him. Claudius' appearance prevented his death in this case.

Relocation

-If we where to relocate this somewhere else in the play, it would be side by side with the ghost scene to create more dramatic irony.

-Hamlet would discover the truth from the ghost, while, at the same time, Claudius would confess his sins to the audience.