Why Is Claudius's First Soliloquy

This quote from Claudius to Laertes is situationally ironic because Claudius tells Laertes that revenge should not have any limits, even though it might be in a church. However, as shown in Claudius’ prayer scene in Act III, Claudius was on the verge to be killed by Hamlet, but Hamlet decides to restrain himself from his revenge since Claudius was in a church facility praying. The audience is aware of the fact that Claudius’ life was saved because of the very place Claudius was in, however, it is ironic since Claudius is telling Laertes that revenge has no place to filter.

Despite Claudius’s former lack of distress, Claudius’s does wish to be freed from the weighty burden of his sin. However, Claudius’s does not regret the possession he retains from the murder of his brother and confesses “I am still possessed//Of those effects for which I did murder:// My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. Although, Claudius’s confesses to the murder of King Hamlet and ask for repentance and forgiveness, he is by no means regretful of the effects he now possess, and admits that he is “possessed” by the “crown”, “ambition”, and “queen”. He feels that his soul is struggling against the very notion: “limited soul, that, struggling to be free, art more engaged”(3.3 72-74). Claudius personifies that his soul is stuck to sin, and admits that more he tries to be free, the more it clings to sin. He looks then for divine intervention from “angel” ,so that he can retrograde back to a “babe”, the previous state of innocence he once possessed. Though Claudius begs for divine intervention from God and prays, he does not feel remorseful towards his brother’s death but for the ramifications caused by it; because he is unable to pray for the right cause and repent for his sin, Claudius is unable to receive mercy.

In act 3 scene 3 Claudius performs his soliloquy which acts like a window into the true nature of Claudius’ guilt. This excerpt of the play is the first time we encounter Claudius confess blame for the crime against his brother. This self-confession further demonstrates the guilt that Claudius exhibits in act 3 scene 2 when Claudius flees the theater after Hamlet arranges a play reenacting the events of his father’s murder. As Claudius states on line 56, “May one be pardoned and retain th’offense?” This line depicts the true nature of Claudius’ guilt: He does not regret his actions, for his actions have granted him “My crown, mine own ambition and my queen.” (3.2.55) Claudius is content with his gains, his only guilt stems from the fact that he believes he will not go to heaven because of his actions. Zeffirelli as opposed to Branagh shortens this soliloquy which causes a loss of perception into the complex role that guilt plays throughout the story.

This, in turn, exploits Hamlet’s similar flaw of ego and furthers the conflict, but what’s more, it illustrates Claudius’ sheer audacity and lack of repentance. He continues to try to cover up the sin and appease Hamlet into complacency rather than confess and ask for forgiveness. In a mark of pure arrogance, Claudius tells Hamlet to “throw to earth / This unprevailing woe and think of us / As of a father”, conceitedly requesting that Hamlet merely forget the murder and replace his father with the murderer himself (I, ii, 110-112). Similarly, instead of directly confronting Hamlet about his mental condition, the king more or less hires Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on the prince, again cementing his smug mindset. The king does not believe he can be caught or, rather, that Hamlet is competent enough to figure out his plan and foil him. Claudius, too, thinks only of himself after Hamlet’s inadvertent killing of Polonius, pondering “how shall this bloody deed be answered? / It will be laid to us” instead of considering the ramifications of the murder with respect to Hamlet (4.1.17-18). The other two paper-thin traps the king hatches only reinforce his failure to see beyond the apparent; his attempt to deport Hamlet to England and have him killed reeks of treachery and, luckily, Hamlet realizes the king’s subterfuge, crushing the plot and flipping it back on him. Claudius remains steadfast in his efforts to remove Hamlet, going so far as to set up a

Throughout history, literature has been able to captivate and enchant audiences of all backgrounds. Words have an undeniable ability to sway a crowd’s emotions and truly affect them. William Shakespeare, one of the most revered writers of all time, had such skills. His plays are timeless pieces of art considered the foundations of the English literature. Shakespeare’s most dramatic and infamous tragedy, Hamlet, has earned its place as a cornerstone. In the play, Shakespeare poetically writes speeches that show the true colours of the characters, whether good or devious. The main antagonist, Claudius, shows his treachery to the Elizabethan audience, through his speech to his wife Gertrude. Claudius’ conversation with Gertrude in Act 4,

King Claudius expresses, “Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Moreover that we much did long to see you, the need we have to use you did provoke our hasty sending.” (2.2.1-4) He addresses them in what is seemingly a sincere manner, proclaiming the supposed yearning he has had. However, these so-called sincere actions towards Hamlet’s childhood friends are just to convince them to take on the role of spying on Hamlet’s actions and reporting them back to Gertrude and Claudius. He continues to mask his true motives by saying, “To draw him on to pleasures and to gather...you may glean..to us unknown, afflicts him thus that, opened, lies within our remedy.” (2.2.15-19) King Claudius’ choice of words convey an inkling to the audience that he cares for Hamlet because of how he expresses his need to find out Hamlet’s condition, and fix it. This also presents Gertrude with the idea that Claudius has Hamlet’s best interests at heart. This, in King Claudius’ favor, solidifies his honorable, yet selfless stature with his contriving

By so doing it was believed that the sins of the dead person would be

Claudius’s manipulative nature is shown in Act 4, scene where Claudius and Laertes, in a private conference have a conversation regarding Hamlet assassinating Polonius and with the careful use of words Claudius succeeds to convey his intentions to Laertes that he wants Hamlet to be killed by the hands of Laertes under revenge. Claudius replied, “Not that I think you did not love your father, but that I know love is begun by time, and that I see in passages of proof.”(Act IV Scene 7, lines111-113) By the use of words in this statement Claudius shows a clever way to manipulate Laertes into thinking that he would be a ‘bad ‘son if he does not prove his love for his father, Polonius if he does not avenge his death. Hence Claudius by the power

Once Hamlet is sure of Claudius’ guilt, it is Hamlet’s belief in his religion that leads him to inaction. In Hamlet’s mind, it is now his rightful duty to avenge his father’s murder. At the end of Act 3 Scene 3, Hamlet has a perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, when he sees the King kneeling in prayer. Hamlet enters the King's private chapel with a sword in hand, ready to kill Claudius. As Hamlet enters he observes, "now he is a-praying, and now I’ll do 't"(3.3.77-78). But, Claudius is agonizing over his actions. He has committed

In addition to betrayal, a fitting King would not disregard family honour by marrying the wife of his brother, who he murdered, and later attempting to kill the same brother’s son. Throughout the play, Claudius reveals how his hunger for power remains the cause of his continual acts of dishonour to Hamlet and Young Hamlet. Claudius asking God for forgiveness proves that the fruits of power are not as satisfactory when family honour and obligation become sacrificed. Despite Claudius acknowledging that “stronger guilt defeats [his] strong intent,” (3.3.41) he also knows that “in the corrupted currents of this world/ Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice” (3.3.58-59). As Claudius remains in possession of “[his] crown, [his] own ambition, and [his] queen” (3.3.56), he knows God will not forgive him of his grave deed for, ironically, he believes that “There’s such divinity doth hedge a king” (4.5.121). Claudius’ integrated awareness, but lack of actual action, towards political ambition and family honour causes a void of any triumph for himself, for his position as king. Claudius remains stressed by his guilt, thus, raising suspicion as to whether or not he can handle where his ambitions take him. Continuing with Claudius’ evident lack of

The audience views Claudius attempting to pray. He wants forgiveness from the heavens for the murder he commits, but he knows he does not deserve it when he still possesses the things he kills for. It is this murder that sets the play in motion; his displaced love turns him into a villain. Not once does

“Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain th' offense? In the corrupted currents of this world offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice, and oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself buys out the law. But ’tis not so above” (3.3, 55-61). In the end of the play, Claudius’ karma comes back to him in full swing.

It is in Act one scene two that we are first introduced to the character of Claudius. The impression made by him is that of a powerful and controlled man who is respected by most. His mannerisms of speech are graceful and are nothing less than the words of a king, 'to bear our heats with grief, and our whole kingdom.' Claudius is presented to us by

According to the bible, if you repent of your sins you will be forgiven and go to heaven when you die, Hamlet believes this and that is why he does not kill Claudius in this scene. Another reason he does not kill his Claudius based on the reason above, he will not give Claudius the glory of

To wash it white as snow” he is saying that he cant get it off, that