to heaven allude to the Biblical idea of sin causing a separation between man and God.Both Hamlet and the King are involved with acting rles. The former pretends to be insane and the latter lives the lie of his brothers death. Claudius seems to have absorbed this pretence and has become so conditioned to it that he is unable to feel anything for his dead brother. Hamlet is similarly frustrated that his passionate desire for revenge has ebbed away, again this links the two characters.Hamlet also faces a theological dilemma. To his eyes the King is silent in prayer and to kill him at that point would probably send him to heaven -- the last thing Hamlet wants. Hamlet is also only too aware that his own father is in Purgatory because he wasnt prepared for death. The concept of being in a state of Grace was very important to Shakespeares audience and they would have been familiar with Hamlets logic in delaying the act.This is the closest Hamlet has come to avenging his fathers death. He presumably has his sword drawn and this, combined with their actual proximity, is a dramatic peak in the play. The audience would also be aware of the deep dramatic irony, in that Claudius is actually failing to pray and is therefore not in a state of Grace.Strangely Hamlets logic appears flawed. As a double irony he has overlooked the distinct possibility that, since Claudius is still King, any prayer for forgiveness would be somehow invalid. The pondering Hamlet should have realised this point, yet he doesnt dare think it because then he would have to act. Characteristically his thoughts lead to doubt, and that in turn to an impotence of action.In planning his next action, Hamlet uses emotive language to attempt to rekindle his rage. He needs that emotional energy in order to kill Claudius. The audience is reminded of the crimes and the incestuous... bed. Technically Claudius has not committed incest, however Hamlet uses the phrase to evoke an emotional rea...
