Claudius soliloquy Act 3 Scene 3 Claudius has just been talking to Rosencratz and Guildenstern he tells them that hamlet

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Claudius soliloquy Act 3 Scene 3

Claudius has just been talking to Rosencratz and Guildenstern he tells them that hamlet must go immediately to England with them. Polonius tells king Claudius that hamlet is going to meet Gertrude his mother and so Polonius will hide behind the arras (wall-hanging) and listen in on the conversation.

"O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven;

It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,

A brother's murder."

After Claudius is left alone he confesses his guilt and says that he does not know how forgiveness can be attained for his crime. He compares himself to Cain in the bible as the first criminal, in murdering his own brother. He says that he is tempting Cain with his crime, this is Shakespeare indicating that it is very bad.

." Pray can I not,

Though inclination be as sharp as will:"

Here he is saying that he wants to pray for all that he has done but he cannot because of his remorse. He wants to pray and tries as hard as he can but it just is not happening, this shows you that he did