Act III: Hamlet's Act of Revenge In Act III, Hamlet is able to prove to himself that Claudius is guilty of murder. When Hamlet has the chance to kill Claudius at prayer, he decides that killing him is not an adequate way to avenge his father's murder. Hamlet wants to make Claudius’s crime public and ensure he burns in hell forever. At the end of the Act in scene IV, Hamlet goes to his mother’s room, where he mistakenly kills Polonius. He had hoped that the eavesdropper was Claudius. |
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When Hamlet has the chance to murder King Claudius, he decides to wait and get him at a better opportunity. Since King Claudius is at prayer, there is a chance that Claudius would be absolved of his sins. However, killing the King at another sinful time would more likely send him to hell and would be the best way to avenge his father. Hamlet describes King Claudius soul to "be as damned and black as hell." (169) Hamlet may also decide to wait because he is afraid to carry out the the ghost's command. |
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Later when Hamlet meets his mother in her room he accidentally kills Polonius. Hamlet unknowingly stabs the first thing he sees behind the curtain. Hamlet believes that it is Claudius spying on him, which would be a sin that would cause him to go to hell. |
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