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Claudius Act 4
Claudius' soliloquy about his remorse over his murder of Hamlet's father is important to the play because it's the one place where we learn how Claudius feels about what he has done. The rest of the play is all about how Hamlet feels about what Claudius has done, and I think it rounds out the play to get it from a different perspective.
From the soliloquy I can see that Claudius feels sorry for the murder, but not sorry enough. He says, "Oh, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven." He wants to pray for forgiveness of his offense, but laments, "Pray can I not," because "I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder - My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." He murdered Hamlet's father in order to get those things and he is not willing to give them up. He realizes that true repentance would be willing to give then up, and therefore, he is not really repentant. This is why at the end of his prayer, he says "Words without thoughts never to heaven go." There's no point in saying he is sorry because God knows he doesn't really mean it. So, the best he can do is pray that God will make him sorry, by pleading, "Heart with strings of steel, be as soft as the sinews of a new-born babe."
Hamlet Act 4
In Act IV, Scene 4, Hamlet rages against his own ability to seek revenge as the Ghost as urged. He sees the army and Young Fortinbras who are willing to go to their death "even for an eggshell," and it reminds him of his "dull revenge," and that he has lost purpose. Hamlet also contemplates the difference between man and beast (animal): If all he is to do is "sleep and feed' then Hamlet feels he is no better than an animal. He must use his ability to think and plan.
The soldiers give him reason to think about his own honor, with "a father kill'd, a mother stained, " and this thought rallies him to action. "From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody." This soliloquy, then, refreshes Hamlet's purpose in seeking revenge! follow enotes link for more!
Claudius Act 4
Claudius' soliloquy about his remorse over his murder of Hamlet's father is important to the play because it's the one place where we learn how Claudius feels about what he has done. The rest of the play is all about how Hamlet feels about what Claudius has done, and I think it rounds out the play to get it from a different perspective.
From the soliloquy I can see that Claudius feels sorry for the murder, but not sorry enough. He says, "Oh, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven." He wants to pray for forgiveness of his offense, but laments, "Pray can I not," because "I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder - My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen." He murdered Hamlet's father in order to get those things and he is not willing to give them up. He realizes that true repentance would be willing to give then up, and therefore, he is not really repentant. This is why at the end of his prayer, he says "Words without thoughts never to heaven go." There's no point in saying he is sorry because God knows he doesn't really mean it. So, the best he can do is pray that God will make him sorry, by pleading, "Heart with strings of steel, be as soft as the sinews of a new-born babe."
Hamlet Act 4
In Act IV, Scene 4, Hamlet rages against his own ability to seek revenge as the Ghost as urged. He sees the army and Young Fortinbras who are willing to go to their death "even for an eggshell," and it reminds him of his "dull revenge," and that he has lost purpose. Hamlet also contemplates the difference between man and beast (animal): If all he is to do is "sleep and feed' then Hamlet feels he is no better than an animal. He must use his ability to think and plan.
The soldiers give him reason to think about his own honor, with "a father kill'd, a mother stained, " and this thought rallies him to action. "From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody." This soliloquy, then, refreshes Hamlet's purpose in seeking revenge! follow enotes link for more!
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