Hamlet

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1. 
   janeyb

   Hamlet doesn't kill Claudius at that moment because he thinks that Claudius is praying. Hamlet says that killing Claudius now would, "send [this same villain] To heaven” instead of Hell where he belongs. Hamlet vows to kill Cladius as Cladius had killed his father, and not send him to heaven.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/29216

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   Posted by janeyb on Thursday April 26, 2007 at 5:07 PM
   
   

2. 
   rowens Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   Hamlet doesn't kill Claudius at this point because he believes that Claudius is praying. He says that killing the king NOW would be "hire and salary, not revenge!" He simply cannot send Claudius to heaven, where he would surely go were he killed just after praying and purging his sins. He thinks that would not avenge his father's murder, because Claudius killed Old Hamlet without giving him the opportunity to pray, and therefore, Old Hamlet must spend time in hell. Hamlet thinks killing Claudius when he is fit for heaven would be like paying Claudius for the murder of his father. That simply would not do.

   The real irony is that Hamlet does not realize that his revenge could have been complete if he had actually killed the king then and there, because Claudius was not really praying. Oh, sure, he was on his knees, but Claudius says that he knows he cannot be forgiven for the murder unless he truly repents, and repentance would mean giving up his crown and queen. So when Claudius says "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below./ Words without thoughts never to heaven go," he is really admitting that he knows he isn't forgiven. If only Hamlet had known, then Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Leartes, Gertrude and Hamlet all could have survived.

   But then, the story wouldn't be a tragedy :-)

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   Posted by rowens on Friday April 27, 2007 at 6:53 AM
   
   

3. 
   arjun Teacher
   College - Senior

   In this scene the action reaches a crisis. Hamlet sees the king at prayer. He gets a golden opportunity to avenge his father`s death.But he thinks that if he kills the murderer at his prayer, his soul would go to heaven, and abstain from action.He thus misses a golden opportunity,for he does not want a wicked soul to enjoy the pleasure of heaven. Wishing for some other occasion when the king is indulging in some evil deed,Hamlet leaves the place.So evil is evil.As it is said: Virtue is rewarded and vice is punished.What he does in prayer? May be he is crying for mercy. Mercy comes with repentance,but in him we dont find any repentance.

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   Posted by arjun on Tuesday May 1, 2007 at 1:58 PM
   
   

4. 
   simochoitus

   Because he wanted him to go to purgatory/ hell and not heaven.

   This is back when catholics just sayed okay you're forgiven cos u prayed before u died, despite commiting the sinfullest sin on earth. THis is a load of bullshit. I love men!!

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   Posted by simochoitus on Wednesday August 1, 2007 at 11:27 PM
   
   

5. 
   guest15 Student
   High School - 12th Grade

   Hamlet does not kill Claudius when he’s in the chapel as Claudius was praying to the god. Hamlet is armed; he draws out his sword and is in the position and mood to kill King Claudius, but does not kill him, as of the thought that if he kills Claudius while he’s praying, confessing his sins, Claudius will have the chance to go to heaven. He wants Claudius to end up in Hell and controls his emotions. He decides that he will kill King Claudius when he’s involved in some indecent activity, like “drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed, or at a game swearing”.

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   Posted by guest15 on Monday October 6, 2008 at 10:28 PM
   
   

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