Question

hamlet, part 8: themes
poppd in between the election and my hopes,
thrown out his angle for my proper life,
and with such cozenage—is t not perfect conscience
to quit him with this arm? and is t not to be damnd (75)
to let this canker of our nature come
in further evil?
horatio: it must be shortly known to him from england
what is the issue of the business there,
hamlet: it will be short: the interim is mine; (80)
and a mans lifes no more than to say \one.\
but i am very sorry, good horatio,
that to laertes i forgot myself,
for, by the image of my cause, i see
the portraiture of his. ill count his favours: (85)
but, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
into a towering passion.
horatio: peace! who comes here?
why doesnt hamlet feel guilty about sending rosencrantz and guildenstern to their deaths?
he thinks that they would
have challenged him to a
swordfight and he would
have lost.
he thinks that they brought
punishment on themselves
by worming their way into
hamlets business.
he thinks that killing them
is the best way to get
revenge for his fathers
death.
he thinks that they are to
blame for the fact that he
is not king.

Explanation:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were working for Claudius (Hamlet's uncle, the new king) to spy on Hamlet and further Claudius' plans. Hamlet views their actions as meddling in his affairs (related to avenging his father's death and dealing with Claudius' treachery), so he believes they brought their fate upon themselves by aligning with Claudius and interfering in his business. The other options are incorrect: there's no indication he fears losing a swordfight to them (A), killing them isn't about revenge for his father's death directly (C, as his father's death is avenged by killing Claudius), and their actions aren't about him not being king (D, the main conflict is Claudius' murder of his father and usurpation, not just Hamlet's lack of kingship).

Answer:

B. He thinks that they brought punishment on themselves by worming their way into Hamlet’s business.