Hamlet post 6

In the third scene of act 3, we see the unthinkable: an actual confession from Claudius for Hamlet the senior's murder. Claudius agonizes over his deed, wishing redemption but realizing that after committing so wicked a deed, the possibility of forgiveness is slim. Because of all these thoughts running through his head, Claudius is having some trouble praying. At the very end of the scene he states that his "words fly up, [his] thoughts remain below; words without thoughts never to heaven go" (III.IV.103-104). Throughout the scene, Claudius is contemplating the fact that, on earth, bad deeds can sometimes have good rewards for the doer that outweigh the guilt of having committed the crime. However, Claudius reasons that in heaven there are no unfair rewards, and humans are held "even to the teeth and forehead of [their] faults". Claudius is not proud of his deed, but he has effectively reaped the benefits of king Hamlet's murder, and for this his "thoughts" remain evil, and analogically in hell. He's trying to pray, so his words are physically and ideologically pointed up, but since his true thoughts are not divine, he reasons that his prayers will never make it to heaven.