Mythological Allusions in Hamlet Bohan Zhang Olivia Olivas

Mythological Allusions in Hamlet Bohan Zhang Olivia Olivas Lily Olmstead Period 2

Thesis Statement �Within Hamlet, Shakespeare employed mythological allusions to express Hamlet’s strong desire for revenge, from which illustrates the meaning that excessive dedication to revenge will only result in failure and the onset of disastrous consequences.

Allusion to Hercules �Act one, scene two, lines 153 -155 �“Would have mourned longer – married with my uncle, My father’s brother – but no more like my father Than I to Hercules. ”

Article Explanation �“Hamlet, reconciliation, and the just state” �“He [Hamlet] was, in fact, no angel but "a man take him for all and all. ” �Hercules is Hamlet’s model �Hamlet realizes his limitations

Analysis �Reflects the strength of Hamlet character motivation �Desire for revenge �Parallel between Claudius/King Hamlet and Hercules/Hamlet �Hamlet acted despite his limitations �Resulted in the loss of Hamlet’s kingdom

Allusion to Nemean Lion �Act one, scene four, lines 91 -93 �“My fate cries out And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. ”

Article Explanation �“Seneca and the modernity of Hamlet” �“[Hercules] is a model Hamlet feels he cannot live up to. ” �Emphasizes Hamlet’s perception of Hercules �Reference to Nemean reveals Hamlet’s desire to slay his uncle

Analysis �Parallel between Hamlet’s revenge and Hercules’ twelve labors �Hamlet’s revenge resulted with death while Hercules’ labors resulted with redemption �Illustrates the absurd nature of revenge �Hamlet’s excessive dedication was met with disaster

Allusion to Priam �Act two, scene two, lines 435 -438 �“One speech in it I chiefly loved; ‘twas Aeneas’ tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially when he speaks of Priam’s slaughter. ”

Article Explanation �“The uses of interpretation in Hamlet” �“In fact, the ambiguous relationship between reality and drama is a running theme in Hamlet. ” �Reflects the impact of Hamlet’s excessive dedication �Trouble in distinguishing between drama and reality

Analysis �Parallel between King Priam and King Hamlet �Hamlet’s admiration for his father �The purpose behind Hamlet’s dedication �Hamlet’s fate echoes that of his father and King Priam

Citations �Tiffany, Grace. "Hamlet, reconciliation, and the just state. " Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature 58. 2 (2005): 111+. General One. File. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. �Perry, Curtis. "Seneca and the modernity of Hamlet. " Illinois Classical Studies 40. 2 (2015): 407+. Academic One. File. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. �Croxford, Leslie. "The uses of interpretation in Hamlet. " Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics 24 (2004): 93+. General One. File. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.