The Plan

At the closure of the second scene belonging to act three, Hamlet expresses his real intentions in a short soliloquy.His plan has worked out and the play has given him the evidence he expected proving the crime. Now, much convinced of the honesty of the ghost, he begins what seems to me a cruel revenge:

"Tis now the very witching time of night, (380)

When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out

Contagion to this world: Now could I drink hot blood,

And do such bitter business as the day

Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.

O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever (385)

The should of Nero enter this firm bosom:

Let me be cruel, not unnatural:

I will speak daggers to her, but use none;

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites;

How in my words soever she be shunt, (390)

To give them seals never, my soul, consent!" (Act 3, scene2).

Hamlet begins by suggesting that it is the time of night when evil must be done, when the dead rise as hell breathes out. He has set the scene for mischief, for revenge. As he realized this world is cursed he begins capable of committing murder expressed by "Now could I drink hot blood." And it must be done by night when darkness and evil approve of his deeds, otherwise the day would "quake to look on." He will restrain no more from justice and asks that in his revenge he maintain his humanity and the implications of dealing with his own mother. Then historical reference to Nero suggests that the thought of killing his own mother frightens him, being unsure of where his vengeance will appease. But he does wish to be cruel to them as where they to him and rely upon his words to inflict wounds as deep as if stabbed by daggers. And he admits hypocrisy for he is in his revenge threatening to use all this which ignited those feelings. He ends assuring that it is with words that he shall hurt his mother and with words only, but that in them he shall inscribe such guilt that they should be enough.

In his words Hamlet has outlined his plan, and so we become partners of such mischief. It is only left to witness if he shall maintain his honor and refrain from violence, or if the "should of Nero" enter his soul and incite him to murder.