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Hamlet is often called a tragic hero who is torn between thought and action. Why does he not kill Claudius when he sees him in Act III, scene iii? Why does he kill Polonius in Act III, scene iv?

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Hamlet is often called a tragic hero who is torn between thought and action. Why does he not kill Claudius when he sees him in Act III, scene iii? Why does he kill Polonius in Act III, scene iv?

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Solution

In Act III, scene iii, Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, who is alone and unaware of his presence. However, he sees Claudius praying and decides not to kill him. Hamlet's reasoning is that if he kills Claudius while he is praying, Claudius' soul will go to heaven because he is in a state of grace. Hamlet wants Claudius to suffer the same fate as his father, who did not have the chance to confess his sins before he died and therefore, according to Hamlet, is suffering in purgatory. This scene highlights Hamlet's indecisiveness and his tendency to overthink situations.

In Act III, scene iv, Hamlet kills Polonius in a fit of rage. He mistakes Polonius for Claudius, who is hiding behind the arras in Gertrude's room. This act is impulsive and contrasts with his earlier decision not to kill Claudius. It shows that Hamlet is capable of action, but his actions are rash and poorly thought out. This impulsiveness leads to tragic consequences, as Polonius' death sets off a chain of events that result in the deaths of several characters, including Hamlet himself.

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Which factors contribute to Hamlet’s decision in Act IV to resolve to seek revenge? Select all that apply.Claudius’s attempt to kill himthe play within the playgrief over Polonius’s deathOphelia’s mental health

Shakespeare's play Hamlet is one of his most famous tragedies. Hamlet, a young prince in Denmark, learns of his father's death and his mother's marriage to his uncle, King Claudius, the brother of his deceased father. During the play, he pretends to be insane, while contemplating life, death, and revenge. In this scene, King Claudius questions Hamlet as to the whereabouts of Polonius, whom Hamlet accidentally killed earlier.Another room in the castle.(Enter KING CLAUDIUS, attended)KING CLAUDIUS: I have sent to seek him, and to find the body.How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!Yet must not we put the strong law on him:He's loved of the distracted multitude,(5) Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes;And where tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd,But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,This sudden sending him away must seemDeliberate pause: diseases desperate grown(10) By desperate appliance are relieved,Or not at all.(Enter ROSENCRANTZ)How now! what hath befall'n?ROSENCRANTZ: Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord,We cannot get from him.(15) KING CLAUDIUS: But where is he?ROSENCRANTZ: Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure.KING CLAUDIUS: Bring him before us.ROSENCRANTZ: Ho, Guildenstern! bring in my lord.(Enter HAMLET and GUILDENSTERN)KING CLAUDIUS: Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?(20) HAMLET: At supper.KING CLAUDIUS: At supper! where?HAMLET: Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certainconvocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Yourworm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all(25) creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves formaggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is butvariable service, two dishes, but to one table:that's the end.KING CLAUDIUS: Alas, alas!(30) HAMLET: A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of aking, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.KING CLAUDIUS: What dost you mean by this?HAMLET: Nothing but to show you how a king may go aprogress through the guts of a beggar.(35) KING CLAUDIUS: Where is Polonius?HAMLET: In heaven; send hither to see: if your messengerfind him not there, seek him i' the other placeyourself. But indeed, if you find him not withinthis month, you shall nose him as you go up the(40) stairs into the lobby.KING CLAUDIUS: Go seek him there.(To some Attendants)HAMLET: He will stay till ye come.(Exeunt Attendants)KING CLAUDIUS: Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,--Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve(45) For that which thou hast done,--must send thee henceWith fiery quickness: therefore prepare thyself;The bark is ready, and the wind at help,The associates tend, and every thing is bentFor England.(50) HAMLET: For England!KING CLAUDIUS: Ay, Hamlet.HAMLET: Good.KING CLAUDIUS: So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.HAMLET: I see a cherub that sees them. But, come; for(55) England! Farewell, dear mother.KING CLAUDIUS: Thy loving father, Hamlet.HAMLET: My mother: father and mother is man and wife; manand wife is one flesh; and so, my mother. Come, for England!(Exit)KING CLAUDIUS: Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard;(60) Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night:Away! for every thing is seal'd and doneThat else leans on the affair: pray you, make haste.(Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN)And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught--As my great power thereof may give thee sense,(65) Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and redAfter the Danish sword, and thy free awePays homage to us--thou mayst not coldly setOur sovereign process; which imports at full,By letters congruing to that effect,(70) The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England;For like the hectic in my blood he rages,And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done,Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun.(Exit)4Select the correct answer.What plot event results from this scene between Hamlet and Claudius? A. Hamlet reveals that he has killed Polonius. B. King Claudius gains control over Hamlet. C. Hamlet leaves the country for England. D. Hamlet plans revenge against Claudius.

Why does Polonius’s death bother Claudius so much?it could have been himthe fear of Laertes’s angerthe long service Polonius gave himthe fear that Gertrude will be next

What plot event results from this scene between Hamlet and Claudius? A. Hamlet reveals that he has killed Polonius. B. Hamlet leaves the country for England. C. King Claudius gains control over Hamlet. D. Hamlet plans revenge against Claudius.

Introduction: "Hamlet," a renowned tragedy penned by the legendary playwright William Shakespeare, is a profound exploration of themes such as revenge, deceit, betrayal, and existentialism, set against the backdrop of the royal court of Denmark. Main Body: The play revolves around Prince Hamlet, who is driven to avenge his father's murder perpetrated by his uncle Claudius, who has usurped the throne and married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet's internal struggle, his contemplation of life and death, and his feigned madness form the crux of the narrative. Shakespeare's masterful use of soliloquies, particularly the famous "To be or not to be" speech, provides deep insight into Hamlet's psyche and his philosophical musings. The play's exploration of moral legitimacy and the consequences of action and inaction contribute to its enduring relevance. Conclusion: In conclusion, "Hamlet" is a timeless masterpiece by William Shakespeare that delves into the human condition, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of revenge. Its rich character development, intricate plot, and profound thematic depth make it a cornerstone of English literature. Can you add information

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