Claudius Praying Notes

•     Act 3, scene 3
• Main issue: Claudius tries to pray but cannot as he explains that his “offence is rank, it smells to heaven”
•  Lines 1-21:

o   King Claudius speaks of how his faults are too great, and he is worried that he can never be forgiven for them.

o   “eldest curse upon it” – the word curse refers to his brother’s death

o   Caesura:

  “A brother’s murder. Pray can I not”

·         Used to show that Claudius had a thought which triggered him to think of another – shows a sense of confusion

o   Ongoing pentameter:

§  “My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; and, like a man to double business bound”

·         Shows Claudius confused and worrisome feelings

·         “My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent”  means that his sin overshadows the intent of wanting forgiveness by praying

·         Simile: “like a man to double business bond” having the problem of praying for Claudius is like having a double job – its hard

o   “I stand in pause where I shall first begin” – Claudius doesn’t know where or how to begin his prayers

o   “Cursed hand” – refers to himself

o   “Brother’s blood” – symbolizes Claudius’ sin of murder

o   Rhetorical Question:

§  “Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow?”

·         Claudius is asking for forgiveness

·         He is pretty much saying ‘can’t god easily just forgive me, take the burden off his shoulders’

·         Simile:”as white as snow”- Shakespeare uses this to show Claudius’ wants; which is to be forgiven and become pure, to be clean (“white as snow”)

•    Lines 22-34:

o   “My fault is past” – Claudius cannot turn back or relive his past, he rather, has to feel the guilt

o   Claudius asks “what form of prayer can serve my turn?” He is asking how can he be forgiven and what should he should do

o   “Forgive me my foul murder?” – praising to the Lord, asking for forgiveness

o   Contradiction: “Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be; since I am still possessed” -  Claudius is asking for forgiveness but also admitting that he doesn’t deserve it as he did kill his brother (“still possessed”) – Through this, Shakespeare is illustrating Claudius’ confusion about his wants

o   “My crown, mine own ambition and my queen, may one be pardoned and retain the offence?” – Claudius is apologizing for his selfishness

•     Lines 35-43:

o   “Try to repentance can: what can it not? Yet what can it when one cannot repent? O wretched state! O bosom black as death!”

§  Here, Claudius is doubting himself about his ability to be forgiven

§  He is asking rhetorical questions to God – Shakespeare uses this to show that Claudius is weak

§  Using words like O emphasize Claudius’ guilty feelings

§  “O wretched state!” represents the state of which Claudius is in – like him asking for forgiveness

§  Simile: “bosom black as death” – meaning that Claudius asking for forgiveness is terrible; the worst thing you could do

o   “Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay!”

§  Praise to the heavens asking for help

§  Asking for god to make his repentance process easy

§  The exclamation marks were used to show his eagerness

o   Simile:

§  “Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe”

·         Claudius wants his forgiveness to be an ease

·         Plus, a happy and good moment, not one that has to bring him misery

·         He wants everything to be okay, as he says “all may be well”

(Then Hamlet enters)

• Lines 44-49:

o   Hamlet interrupts Claudius when he is trying to pray

o   Hamlet is seeking revenge and therefore thought to himself that at that time, when Claudius was on his knees praying, was a good time to kill him as Hamlet says “and now I’ll do it”

o   Hamlet calls Claudius a “villain”

o   Hamlet wants revenge as he says “a villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.”