Act 3, Scene 3

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Key Events in Act 3, Scene 3

Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of his “fear” of Hamlet and orders them to accompany Hamlet to England.

Key events in Act 3, Scene 3

When left alone, Claudius then attempts to pray and repent for his brother’s murder.
Hamlet comes across Claudius praying and sees his chance to enact revenge. However, he decides against it on the grounds that killing Claudius while at prayer runs the risk of sending him straight to heaven.

Claudius' confession

Claudius, in prayer, confesses to the “rank” crime of fratricide.
- The audience at last knows that Claudius is guilty of murdering his brother.
The audience also learns of his motives, handily summarised by Claudius in the single line, “My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen”.
However, it becomes clear throughout the soliloquy that Claudius is not prepared to give up his crown or queen.

Claudius worries for forgiveness

Claudius: “May one be pardon’d and retain th’ offence?”
- Claudius clearly feels the burden of guilt. He is clear-headed enough to question whether he can receive forgiveness while still benefiting from his “offence” (crime). As such, his soliloquy is free of hypocrisy or any attempt to justify his crime and audience members may even see him in a more positive light.

Hamlet's Christian beliefs

Hamlet decides not to kill the unguarded Claudius.
- This scene reveals Hamlet’s belief in a Christian afterlife where Claudius may be granted a place in heaven if he has truly repented of his crime.
- Hamlet compares the “salvation” of Claudius’ soul with his father’s suffering in Purgatory and decides to kill Claudius at a time which will guarantee his soul being “damn’d" and "black / As hell, whereto it goes”.

Hamlet: quotation on "revenge"

Hamlet: “Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge.”
Hamlet is clear of his mission (“revenge”) but is also clear that killing Claudius now will not result in him achieving his goal.

Analysis of "hire and salary"

The phrase “hire and salary” (an example of doubling/hendiadys, where two nouns are paired together) is not immediately understandable but carries the possible meaning of Hamlet feeling like a hired assassin, employed to take out a ‘hit’ and unconcerned about the justice of the act.
For Hamlet’s revenge to be complete, Claudius’ soul must be “damn’d”.

Key Ideas in Act 3, Scene 3 - Justice

Hamlet decides against killing Claudius at prayer because he thinks that this will not deliver true justice.

Why does Hamlet spare Claudius?

Hamlet clearly believes that, as Claudius may be praying to God for forgiveness, his soul will be cleansed and, as a result, he will succeed to heaven.
He would be rewarding, rather than punishing, his uncle.

Comparison to Claudius' father

Hamlet makes the comparison to Claudius’ murder of his father while his soul was still stained by “his crimes”, leading to his suffering in Purgatory.
For there to be true justice, Claudius’ soul must be “damn’d” in “hell”.

Irony: Claudius does not repent

The scene ends on a note of irony.
- Claudius reveals that his prayers have been wasted as he does not truly repent of his crime; he is unprepared to give up the crown.
- Hamlet would have achieved his revenge had he acted on his first impulse: justice would have been served.

1Introduction

1.1Introduction & Background to Hamlet

1.1.1Introduction to Hamlet

1.1.2The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story

1.1.3Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet

1.1.4Introduction to Social Issues Raised

2Plot Summary

2.1Act 1: Key Events & Ideas

2.1.1Act 1, Scene 1

2.1.2Act 1, Scene 2

2.1.3Act 1, Scene 3

2.1.4Act 1, Scenes 4-5

2.2Act 2: Key Events & Ideas

2.2.1Act 2, Scene 1

2.2.2Act 2, Scene 2

2.3Act 3: Key Events & Ideas

2.3.1Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events

2.3.2Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas

2.3.3Act 3, Scene 2

2.3.4Act 3, Scene 3

2.3.5Act 3, Scene 4

2.4Act 4: Key Events & Ideas

2.4.1Act 4, Scene 1

2.4.2Act 4, Scenes 2-3

2.4.3Act 4, Scene 4

2.4.4Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events

2.4.5Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas

2.4.6Act 4, Scene 6

2.4.7Act 4, Scene 7

2.5Act 5: Key Events & Ideas

2.5.1Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events

2.5.2Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events

2.5.3Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas

3Character Profiles

3.1Hamlet

3.1.1Hamlet's Speech & Mind

3.1.2Hamlet's Heroic Status

3.1.3Hamlet's State of Mind

3.1.4Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking

3.2Claudius

3.2.1Claudius' Crime

3.2.2Changing Impressions of Claudius

3.3Gertrude

3.3.1Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude

3.3.2Gertrude's Character

3.3.3Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet

3.4Ophelia

3.4.1Ophelia

3.5Polonius

3.5.1Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia

3.5.2Polonius' Spying & Death

3.6Laertes

3.6.1Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia

3.6.2Laertes' Character Traits

4Key Themes

4.1Regicide in Hamlet

4.1.1Regicide in Hamlet

4.2Madness in Hamlet

4.2.1Madness in Hamlet

4.3Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet

4.3.1Guilt in Hamlet

4.3.2Punishment in Hamlet

4.4Settings in Hamlet

4.4.1Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet

5Writing Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure of Hamlet

5.1.2'Play Within a Play' Structure

5.1.3Play-Acting Motif

5.2Form

5.2.1Soliloquy

5.2.2Comedy

5.3Imagery

5.3.1Imagery of Corruption & Decay

5.3.2Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume

5.4Language

5.4.1Word Usage & Hendiadys

5.4.2Questions & Classical Allusions

6Context

6.1Social & Historical Context

6.1.1Elizabeth I & Succession

6.1.2Cosmic & Social Hierarchy

6.1.3Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism

6.1.4Regicide

6.1.5The Reformation

6.2Literary Context

6.2.1Seneca Tragedy

6.2.2The Revenge Tragedy

6.3Performance & Textual History

6.3.1Performance History of Hamlet

6.3.2Textual History of Hamlet

7Critical Debates

7.118-19th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.1.1Introduction to Critical Debates

7.1.218th Century Commentary on Hamlet

7.1.3Romantic Commentary on Hamlet

7.220th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.2.1Freudian Response to Hamlet

7.2.2Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.3Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.1Introduction to Feminist Criticism

7.3.2Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.3Presentation of Ophelia

7.4Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet

7.4.1Introduction to Marxist Criticisms

7.4.2Marxist Readings of Hamlet

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