Hamlet Act 3 Document

My Dearest Horatio,

As thou art mine only friend in this castle, I feel I can trust you with this. Today Claudius knelt in prayer, and I caught him. He was vulnerable; unsuspecting. He was an easy target. But…I didn’t do’t. Killing him during prayer was not wise. If I had killed him then, how would I be avenging my father? He would be sent to heaven and I would be left to hell. Nothing would have been gained from killing him then. I should kill him when he’s drunk or in a rage. But not now, whilst he is purifying his soul. But that is not the only issue. Horatio, such a dilemma is present. “To be, or not to be? That is the question.” Should I kill him? Or not? Whether ‘tis right or wrong, I must avenge my father. But I do not want to be punished for’t. I do not wish upon myself the sin of murder. Horatio, what would thou do? Thou has always been such a loyal, honest friend to me. I want him dead, yet is’t better to let him suffer the punishment for what he’s done? The guilt is penetrating his body. It spreads through him like the poison he sent through my father. I want him to feel that guilt. He should suffer for the pain he hath put me through. Yet...when he was knelt in prayer…for a moment…I felt sympathy wash through me. FIE! What do I speak of? This is mad! Why doth I feel sympathy when he hath slain my father? ‘Tis madness. Pure and utter insanity. Claudius killed my father. Claudius deserves to suffer. And that he shall. But why, Horatio, could I not have slain him then? Why is such procrastination going through my head? My father hath asked for vengeance, and I swore to him that he shall get. So why the hesitation? Everytime I get close to sticking a sword through him, I back down, making excuses on why I should not kill him at that moment. ‘Tis spiraling out of control. If I don’t act soon, something bad could happen. I must take care of my problem…but I need help. Dearest Horatio, you are my only family left. Your word means more to me than any other. Am I wrong in wanting to kill Claudius? What should I do now? I don’t know what my next move should be…do I leave him to live? Or make him “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?” Please Horatio, help me. I do not know what to do. I can try speaking to my mother once again. Or…I can go to England like they wish. May if I go I shall be able to think straight about my course of action. Horatio, I think maybe that is what I shall do. To England I go.

Yours Truly,

Hamlet