Hamlet 6a

At this moment in the play, Hamlet and Claudius act as foils in that Hamlet is tethered down by logic, while Claudius appears to be much more emotionally charged.  Emotionally, Hamlet has many good reasons to kill Claudius: Claudius has essentially given away the fact that he has murdered the late King Hamlet, and Hamlet  is now alone with Claudius, a sword, and his anger.  Now would be a perfect time to kill Claudius, but Hamlet talks himself out of it with logic: "I, [King Hamlet's] sole son, do this same villain send / To heaven. / Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge" (III.iii.82-84).  While the audience may reason that now is an optimal time to kill him, Hamlet convinces himself otherwise in spite of his emotions towards Claudius.  In contrast, Claudius seems to be stressed and worried about the murder he has committed and the possible consequences.  His soliloquy is loaded with questions; almost every sentence in lines 47-56 ends in a question mark.  This fast-paced introspection creates a tone of desperation and fear of facing justice for his evil actions, and it gives the impression that his either his guilt or his fear is sincere.  The paranoia that leads Claudius into prayer contrasts with the cold logic that leads Hamlet out of his desire to kill his stepfather.