What is Claudius trying to do when he is alone on stage? … Claudius
is trying to pray, but
he is unable to start praying because of his guilt. (“My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent.”)
What does Claudius do during the performance?
What is Claudius' reaction to the play? He becomes upset in the middle of the play;
he rises and makes them stop performing
.
What does Claudius say he Cannot do?
Claudius goes on, speaking to himself, suggesting that he
“cannot repent”
because he does not want to give up all he has gained as a result of his sinful action (3.3. 70). He believes that he has a “bosom black as death” and a “limèd soul” that is stuck down on earth and cannot reach up to heaven (3.3. 71, 3.3.
What is Claudius purpose?
Claudius simply wants
to stay in power by any means necessary
. Claudius's primary role in Hamlet is to create confusion and anger and impact Hamlet's discovery of truth and meaning in his life.
When King Claudius is alone what does he confess his plan is for Hamlet?
Claudius is now alone to reveal his sinister plan:
he will send letters to England, a country “raw and red/After the Danish sword”
(4.3. 60-61), threatening war unless they assassinate Hamlet when he lands on British soil.
How does Claudius react after watching the death scene?
Claudius is upset at the play because it looks just like the murder of his brother at his own hands. He killed King Hamlet, married Gertrude, and took the throne for himself. In the next scene,
Claudius prays
but says he can't be forgiven because he still has all the things he committed the murder to gain.
What reason does Hamlet give for not killing Claudius while Claudius is alone at prayer?
Hamlet does not kill Claudius when he assumes that he is praying
because he doesn't want Claudius to have the luxury of going to heaven while his father, unjustly murdered, suffers in hell
.
Why this is hire and salary not revenge?
Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. With all
his crimes broad blown
, as flush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven. … He realizes that if Claudius dies while praying (i.e., repenting for his sins), he'll go to heaven.
What does Claudius say when he is praying?
He longs to ask for forgiveness, but says that he is unprepared to give up that which he gained by committing the murder, namely, the crown and the queen. He falls to his knees and begins to pray. … Claudius rises and declares that he has been unable to pray sincerely:
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below”
(III.
What does Hamlet say when he kills Claudius?
“
Why this is hire and salary, not revenge”
– Hamlet soliloquy. He decides that if he kills Claudius at prayer, he'll be acting like nothing more than a hired assassin. … “Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven/ And that his soul may be as damned and black/ As hell whereto he goes” ” – Hamlet soliloquy.
What is Claudius most powerful weapon?
- His money.
- His sex appeal.
- His way with words.
- His aggressiveness.
Why is Claudius a bad person?
Claudius is
manipulative and selfish
. As with others who attain power through evil deeds, Claudius is suspicious and engages in spying on Hamlet. He is an individual preoccupied with protecting his power. He is not a good and worthy King, he is more concerned for himself than for his kingdom.
Did Claudius really love Gertrude?
Claudius can also be sensitive and gentle. He is genuinely sorry for Polonius' death, and
he truly loves Gertrude
. He must kill Hamlet, but he refuses to do so with his own hand for Gertrude's sake. He also sincerely likes Ophelia, and treats her with the kindness that she should receive from her great love, Hamlet.
Did you assay him to any pastime?
QUEEN Did you assay him to any pastime?
This night to play before him
. To hear him so inclined. And drive his purpose into these delights.
What does he say he will do when he meets with his mother?
He turns to his mother,
declaring that he will wring her heart
. He shows her a picture of the dead king and a picture of the current king, bitterly comments on the superiority of his father to his uncle, and asks her furiously what has driven her to marry a rotten man such as Claudius.
What is Hamlet's tragic flaw?
The word ‘tragic flaw' is taken from the Greek concept of Hamartia used by Greek philosopher Aristotle in his Poetics. Shakespeare's tragic hero Hamlet's fatal flaw is his failure to act immediately to kill Claudius, his uncle and murderer of his father. His tragic flaw is ‘
procrastination
‘.
