Question

Describe the scene in which hamlet decides to kill Claudius. Why is it significant that hamlet finds his uncle praying during act lll, scene lll?

Answer 1

Hamlet wants to kill Claudius as he is having a discussion with his mother, Gertrude, however he accidentally kills Polonius instead. It is important that he finds him praying, because he holds back killing him because he does not want him to be killed while he is praying for his sins, because that would mean he is going to heaven. Hamlet wants him to go to hell. He decides to wait until Claudius commits another crime such as incest or heavy drinking. 

Answer 2

When Hamlet goes to kill Claudius in act III, scene III, he notices his uncle praying. Hamlet feels that if he kills his uncle as he prays, his uncle’s soul will be washed free of sin because he has prayed to God for repentance. Hamlet does not want his uncle to go sin-free to heaven and decides to wait till later to kill him, after he has sinned again. The fact that Claudius prays immediately after the play-within-a-play is significant because, in Hamlet’s mind, it confirms his uncle’s guilt and puts to rest the inner conflict Hamlet experienced before the event. PLATO