Question

Read act III of Hamlet. Then describe the scene in which Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius. Why is it significant that Hamlet finds his uncle praying during act III, scene III?

Answer 1

Answer:

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.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Hamlet is determined to kill Claudius. So, he slips into his room and he is ready to kill him when, suddenly, he overhears Claudius praying for forgiveness for his sins. Hamlet realises that if he kills his uncle at this moment he will be forgiven for his father's murder and he will go to Heaven. So, finally, Hamlet decides not to kill him at this point but to rather wait until he's caught at a moment of sin. Then, he can ensure that Claudius will go to Hell and will be punished for his sins.

The fact that Hamlet finds his uncle praying is important because it makes Hamlet postpone his revenge. Also, at this scene, Hamlet for the first time questions himself about what really happened to his father when he says that he's not sure if his father had the chance to pray for forgiveness before he was murdered. For this reason, he doesn't want his uncle to go to Heaven while his father may be in Hell and so the climax of the play is postponed.