Question

In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet has an opportunity to kill Claudius, but he does not act. One scene later, however, Hamlet does not hesitate at all when he kills Polonius in Gertrude’s chamber.
Why is Hamlet able to act in Scene 4 but not in Scene 3? What does this tell readers and viewers about Hamlet’s character?

Answer 1

In scene 3, Hamlet caught Claudius while he was in prayer and he thought that if he killed him then, Claudius could still go to heaven and he didn't that to happen to a "villain". Compare this to scene 4 when he had actual proof of Claudius' crime but mistook Polonius for him. This shows that Hamlet was honorable even when he was troubled.