Question

what does claudius’s speech at the beginning of scene 3 (lines 1-11) reveal about the difficult situation he is in?

Answer 1

Claudius is in a difficult position because Hamlet has just killed Polonius and must be punished. However, he knows that the people of Denmark love Hamlet and would refuse to believe that anything he did wrong was his fault. So, he needs to come up with a plan to send Hamlet away without causing any suspicion. 

Answer 2

At the beginning of Act III, scene 3, we see Claudius trying to pray, but being unable to. This is the first time he actually reveals he is responsible for the death of King Hamlet. He also expresses regret over his actions, but tells us that he cannot make amends because he is not willing to give everything up. Moreover, he knows that Hamlet is a threat to his situation, and wonders what to do with him.