Question

In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet has an opportunity to kill Claudius, but he does not act. One scene later, however, Hamlet does not hesitate at all when he kills Polonius in Gertrude’s chamber. Why is Hamlet able to act in Scene 4 but not in Scene 3? What does this tell readers and viewers about Hamlet’s character?

Answer 1

In scene iii, claudius is praying.  Hamlet worries that because he is praying, he might go to heaven.  In scene 4, Hamlet actually mistakes polonius for hamlet and since he is not praying kills him because he does not fear he will go to heaven.  It tells us Hamlet is religious.