In this soliloquy, Claudius is reflecting on his character and confesses. He talks about seeking forgiveness and praying over it. He feels remorse, although the remorse is not because he murdered his brother but he has remorse for the consequences he has to face because of it. In this speech, it seems like Claudius wants to be forgiven but not if he has to give up the crown and his queen. Claudius is prepared to pray but he does not know what prayer would help him. This is when he says Forgive me my foul murder?, the questioning tone is present in the sentence because Claudius is not sure if there is any prayer that he can say that will allow him to be forgiven. The soliloquy provides insight into how Claudius is feeling because he does have the intention of praying but he cannot follow through because what he has done is so horrible that it cannot be forgiven.
The next line that follows Claudius says that he is still possessed of the effects for which I did the murder. He goes on to list the motivation that he had for killing his brother whic
h he says My crown, mine own ambition and my queen Claudius is illustrating that he cannot receive his pardon if he still possesses all of the rewards that he got as a result of his crime. He repeats his question saying May one be pardoned and retain the offense?. The question is followed by an alliteration corrupted currents. The repetition of the concrete sound is supposed to mimic the dark feeling that he has within himself and the environment around him. The next few lines of the selected portion of the soliloquy say, And oft tis seen the wicked prize itself / Buys out the law. But tis not so above: / There is no shuffling; there the action lies. What Claudius is conveying is that, in the physical world on Earth he can get away with murder because, as king, he can use his position against his subjects so that no one finds out the truth. Then he says that it is not the same above and there is no shuffling in true nature. The words above and true nature are meant to describe heaven and in heaven Claudius will not be able to escape from this.