Act 3, Scene 3

Question 1

Plot summary?

Answer 1

Claudius confesses in a private scene to his act of regicide- attempts to pray to God but is unsuccessful as he still reaps the benefits- Hamlet looks to kill him but believes that he can not send a villain to Heaven

Question 2

Claudius’s confession?

Answer 2

‘My offence is rank, it smells to heaven… a brother’s murder’

Question 3

Why can Claudius not pray- use a quote?

Answer 3

‘Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be since I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder’- Repentance is impossible as he refuses to give up what he has acquired- villainous nature
Does however have a guilty conscience but arguably audience do not pity him

Question 4

Hamlet’s decision to not kill Claudius?

Answer 4

‘A villain kills my father and for that I, his sole son send that same villain to heaven’ - not true justice, Hamlet wants to inflict maximum suffering- suffering in afterlife too, links to King Hamlet suffering in purgatory

Question 5

Claudius realisation that he cannot escape God’s justice?

Answer 5

‘Tis seen the wicked prize itself buys out the law, but tis not so above’