ss and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, abuses me to damn me" (2.2.627-632). Fearing deception, Hamlet has doubts, which initiate his inaction. His hesitation is somewhat resolved in the form of a play. In order to test the truth of the ghost, Hamlet devises a scheme to perform a play to "catch the conscience of the King"(2.2.634), by reenacting a scene similar to the events recounted by the ghost about King Hamlets murder, in order to prove Claudius guilt. Here, Hamlets inaction results not only from his distrust of his fathers apparition, but from his distrust of his own senses. Had Hamlet trusted his father in death as he had in life, Hamlets life would never have resulted in such a tragic end.Once Hamlet is sure of Claudius guilt, it is Hamlets belief in his religion that leads him to inaction. In Hamlets mind, it is now his rightful duty to avenge his fathers murder. At the end of Act 3 Scene 3, Hamlet has a perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, when he sees the King kneeling in prayer. Hamlet enters the King's private chapel with a sword in hand, ready to kill Claudius. As Hamlet enters he observes, "now he is a-praying, and now Ill do 't"(3.3.77-78). But, Claudius is agonizing over his actions. He has committed murder, yet he prays for a heavenly pardon. "O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon 't, a brother's murder"(3.3.40-42). Claudius realizes that although he may have escaped judgment on earth, there is no escape for him in heaven, except for God's forgiveness. Though he finds he is in no state to pray or repent, he calls on angels to help and kneels to pray, "Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay. Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel be soft as sinews of the newborn babe"(3.3.73-75). The kings prayers delay Hamlet. Hamlet believes that if he killed Claudius then, after he had prayed for forgiveness, Claudius would be forgiven for his sins an...
