Act 3 Scene 3

Claudius begins speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and informs them of some diplomatic business in England for which he is commissioning them. They are to go with Hamlet, because he is posing too much of a risk in Denmark. After they leave, Claudius performs a soliloquy, in which he admits to the murder of Old Hamlet. The audience is now certain that it was Claudius who poisoned Old Hamlet in the orchards, just as Hamlet and the players implied through The Mousetrap. He likens himself to Cain, who was the first murderer in the Bible. However, due to the nature of a soliloquy, Claudius is only sharing his feelings and thoughts with the audience; no other character in the play can hear what he’s confessing. Claudius himself is questioning whether he can actually be forgiven for the blood on his hands because it was such a sinful action. Nevertheless, Claudius is willing to “try what repentance can” and pray.