Hamlet #6

     Hamlet and Claudius may commit the same crimes, but they will never comprehend their actions in the same manner. In this section, the King has a soliloquy where he finally discloses information about the murder: "O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven; / It hath the primal eldest curse upon 't, / A brother's murder" (III.iii.40-42). The first curse issued by God was upon Cain for murdering his brother Abel. Therefore, Claudius is directly admitting his crime to the audience (although he never employs the name of King Hamlet). Within Claudius' soliloquy, he acknowledges the two conflicting forces he faces, demonstrating his reasoning and logic. While describing the motivation behind the murder, Claudius says, "My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, / And, like a man to double business bound, / I stand in pause where I shall first begin / And both neglect" (III.iii.44-47). Claudius sees the murder as the outcome of an internal battle fought between moral dilemmas and personal prosperity. And even after the sin has been committed, he still suffers between pangs of guilt and resentment for his act even though he thrived from the murder.
     Hamlet, on the contrary, is singularly focused on achieving revenge for his father's death, and there appears to be no remorse, regardless of the collateral damage. When Hamlet is talking with his mother, he spears Polonius from behind the curtain (...so much for solely confining the daggers to words...) and follows with a sarcastic remark when his mother frantically questions if he understands what he has done: "Nay, I know not. Is it the king?" (III.iv.32). Hamlet does not appear to be shaken by any guilt, and he voices his disappointment about preferring it would have been Claudius. Hamlet considers the murders he commits justifiable by the death of his beloved father. Although the ends align, Claudius strategically murdered his brother and is now plagued with guilt, whereas, Hamlet is emotionally committing these acts of terror without the slightest hint of remorse.