Hi David. I'm really glad that you are doing this series on Hamlet. One of the things that I think is most interesting about Act Three, scene 3, (where Hamlet has this opportunity to exact his revenge when he finds Claudius praying) is that Hamlet actually misinterprets what is happening here. He thinks that if he kills Claudius during his confession that he will send Claudius to heaven, but, in fact, Hamlet doesn't know that Claudius is actually unable to pray. Claudius' whole soliloquy here is about how he cannot pray; he is saying that he cannot ask for forgiveness because he is still enjoying the benefits of his deed: "my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." This is not a confession. He isn't able to confess. So this is one of many false appearances in the play and one that Hamlet misreads. Thanks for doing this series, David.
More good readings of Hamlet.... I like it!
Hi David. I'm really glad that you are doing this series on Hamlet. One of the things that I think is most interesting about Act Three, scene 3, (where Hamlet has this opportunity to exact his revenge when he finds Claudius praying) is that Hamlet actually misinterprets what is happening here. He thinks that if he kills Claudius during his confession that he will send Claudius to heaven, but, in fact, Hamlet doesn't know that Claudius is actually unable to pray. Claudius' whole soliloquy here is about how he cannot pray; he is saying that he cannot ask for forgiveness because he is still enjoying the benefits of his deed: "my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." This is not a confession. He isn't able to confess. So this is one of many false appearances in the play and one that Hamlet misreads. Thanks for doing this series, David.