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Why does Hamlet say he can not kill Claudius while Claudius is praying?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Because he believes that because King Claudius is praying, he soul will be cleansed. Because of this, he would not be damned to hell or purgatory when he dies. Instead, Hamlet decides to wait until King Claudius has slept with the Queen later that night before killing him (theoretically his soul would be sullied because of this). The reason this is such a big deal is because the ghost of old King Hamlet wanders trapped in purgatory since he didn't have a chance to confess his sins.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHamlet believes that a person who is praying has purified himself and therefore will go to heaven, no matter what he might have done. Hamlet knows that his father is in Purgatory, which is near to Hell, and doesn't want his father's murderer to go to Heaven. That, he thinks, is hardly the kind of revenge his father had in mind for him.
Hamlet's theology may be a bit wobbly, but it does result in Claudius surviving for another couple of acts.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause, if Hamlet kills King Claudius while he is "praying" (it turns out he was not praying at all), he would have sent Claudius to heaven, for doing such a holy act such as praying. Hamlet does not want this; he wants Claudius to suffer, and be damned to hell for all the evil he has done. We learn a little later, it would have been a wonderful tine to kill him, because Claudius did not feel right praying. He felt that he could not truly repent since he had no intention of giving up the crown or the woman he had murdered for.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoHamlet says that he cannot kill Claudius whilst he is praying because he is scared that God might hear him or see him committing this is crime and he couldn't possibly live with himself if god knew what he had done, Not to mention is is disrespectful to interrupt someone who is praying.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoHe thinks he'll get a better chance where he is more likely to send Claudius to Hell. Hamlet worries that people who die when they are praying go to heaven and that is not enough of a revenge for Hamlet.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoHe would rather kill him while he has unconfessed sins so that he will go to hell.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause Claudius appears to be praying, Hamlet fears he will go straight to heaven. Hamlet wants Claudius to go to Hell, if possible.
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The following words spoken by Claudius are ironic Hamlet did not want to kill him while he was?
praying
Why does Hamlet decide not to kill Claudius after the traveling player's play?
Hamlet finds Claudius praying for forgiveness after the play. He decides that if he were to kill Claudius at that moment, Claudius would go to heaven rather than to hell. Hamlet decides to wait until he finds Claudius sinning, in order to kill him.
Why is the ghost's reminder about his descent to Hell significant in Hamlet?
It sets up Hamlet's choice in Act 3 not to kill Claudius while he is praying, so that Claudius will suffer even more in the afterlife than Hamlet Sr. did.
Why did Hamlet delay killing Claudius in act 3 scene3?
Well, the actual Scene 3 of the play is where Laertes leaves for France.But the question must refer to Act 3 scene 3, the "Prayer Scene." Hamlet gets Claudius alone, but Claudius is praying (without knowing Hamlet is there.) Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius, while Claudius is praying, because he's afraid it would only send Claudius straight to Heaven, and Hamlet doesn't think that would be revenge, instead it would be more like rewarding Claudius.
When Hamlet encounters Claudius alone in Act III scene iii he decides not to kill him because he is praying and killing him would?
Hamlet tells the audience that he does not want to give Claudius the opportunity to absolve himself of all his sins before he dies. He says that to kill Claudius then would mean that Claudius would die a guiltless death, which is exactly what Hamlet did not want. He wanted to avenge his father by killing Claudius in the same way in which Old Hamlet was killed: unprepared and unforgiven for all of his outstanding sins. This is what Hamlet tells the audience, but it is also probably an example of Hamlet's inability to take action. Hamlet is presented with a perfect opportunity to avenge his father, and he comes up with an excuse as to why it is not the right time. The question is whether or not Hamlet is ready to take his life, not whether or not Claudius is going to have a sinless death.
The following words spoken by Claudius are ironic Hamlet did not want to kill him while he was?
praying
Why does Hamlet decide not to kill Claudius after the traveling player's play?
Hamlet finds Claudius praying for forgiveness after the play. He decides that if he were to kill Claudius at that moment, Claudius would go to heaven rather than to hell. Hamlet decides to wait until he finds Claudius sinning, in order to kill him.
Why is the ghost's reminder about his descent to Hell significant in Hamlet?
It sets up Hamlet's choice in Act 3 not to kill Claudius while he is praying, so that Claudius will suffer even more in the afterlife than Hamlet Sr. did.
Why did Hamlet delay killing Claudius in act 3 scene3?
Well, the actual Scene 3 of the play is where Laertes leaves for France.But the question must refer to Act 3 scene 3, the "Prayer Scene." Hamlet gets Claudius alone, but Claudius is praying (without knowing Hamlet is there.) Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius, while Claudius is praying, because he's afraid it would only send Claudius straight to Heaven, and Hamlet doesn't think that would be revenge, instead it would be more like rewarding Claudius.
The following words spoken by Claudius are ironic Hamlet did not want to kill him while he was yet here Claudius reveals that he was not in fact doing so III iii 100 101?
Praying
When Hamlet encounters Claudius alone in Act III scene iii he decides not to kill him because he is praying and killing him would?
Hamlet tells the audience that he does not want to give Claudius the opportunity to absolve himself of all his sins before he dies. He says that to kill Claudius then would mean that Claudius would die a guiltless death, which is exactly what Hamlet did not want. He wanted to avenge his father by killing Claudius in the same way in which Old Hamlet was killed: unprepared and unforgiven for all of his outstanding sins. This is what Hamlet tells the audience, but it is also probably an example of Hamlet's inability to take action. Hamlet is presented with a perfect opportunity to avenge his father, and he comes up with an excuse as to why it is not the right time. The question is whether or not Hamlet is ready to take his life, not whether or not Claudius is going to have a sinless death.
Why doesn't Claudius execute Hamlet?
Claudius is praying, and repenting his sins. Hamlet chooses not to kill him as doing so would send Claudius to heaven. He instead decides to wait to catch him in some sinful act and send him to hell for killing his father.
Where is Claudius when Hamlet first tries to kill him?
I guess you could say that Hamlet's first attempt to kill Claudius was when he stabbed Polonius, since he says "I took thee for thy better." At that time Claudius was probably still downstairs somewhere.
Why does Hamlet not kill the king in act 3?
Well, the basic reason is that they're not in the Chapel. The setting is Claudius's private room, the King's Room. That's stated in the play dialogue. Guildenstern says it: "(the king) is in his retirement..." It's reference to the place Claudius retires for the night, his private quarters. When Claudius left the 'Mousetrap' play, he went to his own room. Claudius prays during the scene, and apparently the idea of praying has led some people to think the scene is in the Chapel, however, the actual play dialogue tells us otherwise. People don't have to be in a chapel to pray, and many people pray in their own rooms, of course, which is what Claudius does. Hamlet is discouraged from killing Claudius because he finds Claudius praying. Hamlet is afraid that if he kills Claudius at prayer, Claudius's soul will go straight to Heaven. However, the Ghost said, or very strongly implied, that the soul of Hamlet's father was in Purgatory. Hamlet doesn't see it as fair, that he could send Claudius to Heaven, when his own father is in Purgatory. Hamlet decides to wait for another opportunity later, when there's less chance of sending Claudius's soul to Heaven.
Is the climax of Hamlet is generally considered to occur when Hamlet does not take the opportunity to kill the praying Claudius?
No I was not. According to the text, killing someone while they are free of sin(like while praying) will allow them to skip purgatory and go straight to heaven. Hamlet Senior (the ghost) did not have this chance to pray before being killed. Because of this, he is stuck in purgatory. Hamlet wants Claudius to have the same result has Hamlet Senior had. The ironic thing about this scene is that after Hamlet leaves, Claudius says that he unable to truly confess his sins; therefore, if Hamlet would have killed him, Claudius still would have gone to purgatory.
What steps does Claudius take to rid himself of hamlet?
Hamlet decides to kill Claudius, but first he needs to confirm that what the ghost of his father said was true. So, he devises the play to see if Claudius' guilty conscience will betray him. His suspicion confirmed, he almost murders him him the chapel, but when he sees that Claudius is praying, Hamlet spares him until he can kill Claudius at such a time that it will condemn his soul. The irony is: we learn in soliloquy that Claudius is not able to pray.
How didn't anyone know Hamlet was going to kill king Claudius?
Claudius knew. That's why he conspired with Laertes to kill Hamlet first.
