Quote Analysis

Upon learning that the sword in his hand is poisoned and that he is dying, Hamlet immediately turns it on Claudius, commanding the venom itself to do its work.

Hamlet personifies 'venom' as an agent with its own will and purpose ('to thy work'), as if the poison—not Hamlet—is acting. This transfers agency away from himself even in the moment of revenge, making the murder sound inevitable rather than chosen. The command 'to thy work' also implies the poison has a job to finish, framing Claudius's death as something already set in motion, not something Hamlet is starting.

Use this to argue that Hamlet deflects responsibility even while taking revenge—by addressing the poison instead of claiming the act himself, he linguistically distances himself from murder, maintaining his self-image as instrument rather than agent.