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"Try what repentance can"
Context and Language Videos
Act 3,
Scene 3
Lines 61-69

A discussion of Claudius's repentance in Act 3, Scene 3 of myShakespeare's Hamlet?

myShakespeare | Hamlet 3.3 Try what repentance can

Claudius

There is no shuffling, there the action lies
In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled,
Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
To give in evidence. What then, what rests?     
Try what repentance can. What can it not?
Yet what can it when one cannot repent?    
Oh wretched state, Oh bosom black as death,
Oh limed soul, that struggling to be free,
Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay.    
Video Transcript: 

SARAH: Claudius now seems to revert to his earlier idea — that the best plan is to repent. His initial statement is full of optimism. Try what repentance can: what can it not? In other words, isn't repentance able to make amends for any crime, any sin at all?

RALPH : But immediately Claudius returns to the problem with repentance — to repent, you must sincerely feel remorse for your deeds — and Claudius can't do that, so repentance can't help him.