and the fear of his own death leads him to ruin. Claudius praying for forgiveness shows his guilt and that his “strongest guilt defeats [his] strong intent” (3.3.85). When Claudius realized that he was "still in possession of those effects for which [he] committed the murder" (3.3.85) he knew that he could not be forgiven and all his prayers to be forgiven would not be answered because “thoughtless words never go to heaven” (3.4.87). The guilt Claudius felt eventually turned into Claudius planning Hamlet's death to save himself. Claudius learned that Hamlet knew about the murder and that Hamlet he was returning home from England “stripped to [his] kingdom” (4.7.116), he then plotted the plan with Laertes who ends up killing Laertes, and Claudius himself also kills a another character he had no intention of killing. That character is Gertrude. Claudius claimed to love Gertrude and that "she is so conjunctive to [his] heart and soul that, as the star moves but not in her sphere, [he] ] couldn't do without her" (4.7.115). Claudius killing Hamlet Sr. caused evil to reproduce and if the evil deed had never been done Claudius would not have planned Hamlet's death and Gertrude would not have had to drink from the poisoned cup that led to his death. Overall, if Claudius' guilt and fear of death had not been present, Claudius would not have made such a hasty decision that his plan would have failed..