Question

hamlet, part 5: characteristics of elizabethan drama
tis heavy with him. and am i then revengd,
to take him in the purging of his soul,
when he is fit and seasond for his passage?
no.
up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent; (95)
when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,
or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed,
at gaming, swearing, or about some act
that has no relish of salvation in t;
then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, (100)
and that his soul may be as damnd and black
as hell, whereto it goes. my mother stays:
this physic but prolongs thy sickly days. exit.
claudius rises and advances.
claudius: my words fly up, my thoughts remain below; (105)
words without thoughts never to heaven go. exit.
why doesnt hamlet kill king claudius while claudius is praying?
hamlet does not know how to use his sword.
hamlet knows that murder is considered a sin.
hamlet is afraid that claudiuss soul will go to heaven.
hamlet is interrupted by his mother.

Explanation:

From the text, Hamlet considers Claudius's state during prayer. He thinks if he kills Claudius while he is praying (a holy act), Claudius's soul would be purified and go to heaven. Hamlet wants Claudius to be damned, so he waits for a time when Claudius is in a sinful act (like drunk, in rage, etc.) to kill him, so his soul goes to hell. The other options are inconsistent with the text: Hamlet knows how to use a sword, the concern isn't just about murder being a sin generally (but about the fate of Claudius's soul), and he isn't interrupted by his mother in this decision - making about killing Claudius while praying.

Answer:

Hamlet is afraid that Claudius's soul will go to heaven.