Confession

=Confession=

Though not as prominent as other themes within the play, there are many instances of confession worth noting in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Characters tend to confess during situations in which they feel weak, vulnerable, or guilty, usually when a character of a higher authority uses their power to squeeze the truth out of them. ACT I
 * In Scene 1, Hamlet appears to confess that he had some suspicions about his uncle before the Ghost revealed to him that his father was murdered, though he has done nothing to investigate things thus far. When the Ghost tells him his uncle murdered Hamlet Sr., Hamlet responds with "O, my prophetic soul! My Uncle!", as if he had already had the idea that this horrid deed had taken place
 * Horatio makes a small confession to Hamlet in Scene 2 - he at first says that he had come to Elsinore to attend Hamlet Sr.'s funeral, but upon Hamlet's questioning, he admits that he had also come to see the wedding of Claudius to Gertrude as it "followed hard upon" (I. 2. 186).

ACT II
 * In Scene 2, Polonius confesses to King Claudius and Queen Gertrude that he believe Hamlet is mad for the love of Ophelia, though he thinks erroneously (II. 2. 140-160). This confession results in Hamlet being spied on by Claudius and Polonius, to see if this is truly the case.
 * After Hamlet expresses that he is highly suspicious of their motives, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern confess to Hamlet that they are not actually talking to him out of friendship, but in reality were sent by King Claudius to spy on Hamlet and assess his sanity ("My lord, we were sent for" II. 2. 315). This helps to establish both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as weak and submissive in the face of authority, always breaking under the power of those in charge.
 * At the end of Scene 2, Hamlet confesses to the audience that he realizes that he has done little to avenge his father's murder and feels ashamed of himself. It is this confession that prompts his idea to force a confession out of Claudies in the play within a play scene

ACT III
 * Hamlet confesses that he is contemplating suicide in the famous "to be or not to be" (III. 1. 64-98) speech in Scene 1, displaying the downward spiral of emotions that his life at Elsinore has placed upon him.
 * Hamlet sets up the play within a play to force a confession out of murderous Claudias. Claudius stops the play and storms out just as the murder in the play - in which the perpetrator pouring poison into the ears of the Player King - takes place and Hamlet essentially takes this as a confession of his guilt (p. 155)
 * Claudius confesses his murder of King Hamlet in Scene 3, actually getting onto his knees and praying for forgiveness (p. 165-166), though he does not appear to feel truly guilty for his crimes, as he is still reaping the benefits from them - he is king of Denmark and he is married to Gertrude
 * Gertrude appears to confess her own feelings of guilt. After Hamlet lambastes Gertrude for senselessly marrying Claudius just after the death of her husband, Gertrude begs Hamlet to stop speaking, claiming that Hamlet has "turn'st my eyes into my very soul, and there I see such black and grained spots" (III. 2. 100-101.). The tainted image of her soul suggests a feeling of impurity and guilt on Gertrude's part.
 * In Scene 4, Hamlet finally confesses to Gertrude that her marriage to Claudius is disturbing to him and that he does not want them to be together anymore

ACT IV
 * Hamlet casually confesses the location of Polonius's body in Scene 3, saying to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that "you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby" (IV. 3. 40-41).
 * Scene 3, Claudius confesses to the audience that not really sending Hamlet to England, but rather to his death, building up tension within the audience in making them anxiously anticipate the fate of Hamlet

ACT V
 * The gravedigger confesses that there is some suspicion behind Ophelia's death ("Is she to be buried in Christian burial, when she willfully seeks her own salvation?" V. 1. 1-2). It is possible that she has committed suicide, and thus a Christian burial should not be performed at her funeral. Although, since she is of a high nobility, this is overlooked.
 * In Scene 1, Hamlet finally confesses his tremendous love for Ophelia to Laertes upon discovering her death - "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers / could not with all their quantity of love / make up my sum" (V. 1. 285-287).
 * Hamlet in Scene 2 confesses to Horatio that he has discovered King Claudius's plot against him and that he had sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to the their deaths in England, a fate originally assigned to Hamlet by King Claudius. He even goes as far to confess that he does not feel guilty for killing them, saying that "they are not in my conscience" (V. 2. 65).
 * Hamlet also confesses some guilt for what he has done to Laertes before he duels with him, asking Laertes to "give your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong (V. 2. 240)". However, Hamlet goes on to explain that his misdeeds came as a result of madness, not taking full responsibilities for his actions. Hamlet is perhaps not really mad at all, so he uses this as an excuse to reconcile himself of all wrongdoing.
 * Laertes, shortly before he dies, confesses to Hamlet that the poisoned cup and rapier was a plot devised by the king ("The King's to blame" V. 2. 351.), though he fails to acknowledge his involvement in the scheme