Hamlet: Act III, Scene III

• Claudius: “I like him not, nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range”
• Claudius doesn’t like Hamlet → more importantly, doesn’t like how the events are unfolding before his very eyes
• he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that it is their duty to take Hamlet to England because Hamlet is getting out of hand (and is becoming more dangerous)
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree that the King (and his people) must be protected from Hamlet’s madness
• Polonius tells Claudius that he’s going to go hide behind the curtains in order to spy on Hamlet’s and Gertrude’s conversation
• [Claudius Soliloquy]  Claudius tells of his brothers murder
• his conscience pangs with guilt, which confuses him
• "And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin"
• he prays for forgiveness which he feels is no use after a while
• "That cannot be; since I am still possess'd"
• Hamlet overhears Claudius's prayer; believing it to be the right moment, he takes out his sword BUT actually doesn't go with it
• Plans on doing the deed when "he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed"