In his admission speech (Act 3, Scene 3), Claudius bares all. He, in obvious turmoil, states how his "...stronger guilt defeats [his] strong intent..." (line 40) He is even brought to the point where he states his motives: the crown, his ambition, and the queen (line 55). Even though the murder he committed was awarded with power, pride, and a beautiful queen, the guilt his has acquired is much more prevelant and severe. At the end of his speech, he makes one last attempt for redemption; he cries to the angels, "Help, angels! Make assay./Bow, stubborn knees; and heart with strings of steel,/Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe./All may be well." (lines 69-72)
Quotes taken from The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Edition.
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