Motif Presentation Greek & Roman Allusions Found Throughout Hamlet

In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the motif of Greek and Roman allusions develops the central idea of Fate’s role in the lives of humans.

Act I, Scene II -Hamlet “Frailty, thy name is woman!- A little month, or ere those shoes were old With which she followed my poor father’s body, Like Niobe, all tears. Why, she- O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer!-married with my uncle, My father’s brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules…” (I. ii. 146-153) -Hamlet

These few sentences, spoken by Hamlet following a conversation with and the exit of King Claudius contains two allusions to Greek mythology. The first is a reference to Niobe, a mother in Greek mythology whose children were killed by the gods Apollo and Diana. Niobe was turned to stone after witnessing the death her fourteen children by the gods, but her grief was so great that she wept continuously in the form of a spring that ran from the rock. The second allusion is to Hercules, a prince widely known for his extreme strength. These two examples Hamlet uses in his speech are contrasts to his mother and himself. His mother was sarcastically compared to Niobe because Gertrude so quickly moved on from her grief of the King Hamlet’s death, while Niobe remained a stone spring for hundreds of years after her childrens’ murders. Hamlet compares himself to Hercules as support for the absurd comparison of his father Hamlet to his father’s brother Claudius. These few lines depict the fact that unlike the gods, humans are not perfect and are subject to faults and deviations from their original purposes. These two allusions show the lack of loyalty Gertrude has for her dead husband in contrast to the strength of Niobe’s loyalty to her deceased children and the power Hamlet understands he has little of in comparison to the legendary Hercules. Fate has caused Gertrude to deviate from her position as a loyal mourning wife and put Hamlet into a situation where he would need to be strong and brave like the mighty Hercules to reclaim his father’s throne and mother’s dignity.

Act II, Scene II -Player One “So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood, And, like a neutral to his will and matter, Did nothing. But as we often see against some storm A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below AS hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus’ pause, A roused vengeance sets him a-work, And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall On Mars’s armor, forged for proof eterne, With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune!” (II. ii. 465-478) -Player One

This quotation is both an allusion to Greek history and a metaphor for the action taking place in Hamlet. Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, is out to avenge his father’s death at the hands of Paris. Because Paris is already dead, Pyrrhus seeks vengeance on his family, including his father, Priam. Pyrrhus acts as a foil to Hamlet; both are seeking vengeance for their fathers’ deaths, and both have moments of hesitation at their greatest opportunities to kill their foes. Shakespeare compares the inaction of Pyrrhus and Hamlet, then foreshadows Hamlet’s later acceptance of his fate and seizing of opportunity by telling Pyrrhus’s story. This speech characterizes Hamlet as irresolute and shows that he has not yet accepted the role of fortune in his affairs.

Act III, Scene II -Player King “Full thirty times hath Phoebus’ cart gone round Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbed ground, And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen About the world have times twelve thirties been Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands…” (III. ii. 143-148) -Player King

This line, spoken by the player king at the beginning of their performance, contains several allusions to Greek and Roman mythology. Phoebus’ cart is the chariot of the sun god, which goes around the sea (Neptune’s salt wash) and the land (Tellus’orbed ground) of the world each day. Hymen is the Greek god of marriage. These references are incorporated to show the role that outside forces play in human life. Gods have control over the elements, while people are affected by them. People are subject to the passage of time, as well as to their own desires. This allusion demonstrates the lack of power possessed by humans. Ironically, several characters in Hamlet do not acknowledge the role of fortune in their lives.

Act III, Scene II -Hamlet “Soft, now to my mother. O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom. Let me be cruel, not unnatural: I will speak daggers to her but use none. My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites. How in my words somever she be shent, To give them seals never my soul consent!” (III. ii. 371-378) -Hamlet

Hamlet makes this statement before he goes to Gertrude’s chamber to speak with her about the play he had performed by the traveling actors. The allusion here is to the Roman emperor Nero, who murdered his mother by tearing open her womb to see where he had come from. Nero also ruled the Roman empire following the death of his uncle, Claudius. Because of Nero’s birth and the circumstances of his life, fate led him to the insane state that caused his murderous actions. Unfortunately, because of Hamlet’s birth and the circumstances surrounding his family, fate has also let him towards a similar situation. Hamlet states that he does not want to be like Nero, but is unsure of the power he will have over his own destiny.

Act III, Scene IV -Hamlet “See what a grace was seated on this brow: Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself, An eye like Mars, to threaten and command, A station like the herald Mercury New lighted on a heaven-kissing hill A combination and a form indeed Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man. This was your husband…” (III. iv. 55-63) -Hamlet

In this quote, Hamlet uses several allusions to mythology to describe his father. Hamlet’s use of hyperbole serves to characterize him as fiercely loyal to his father’s memory. Hyperion was the Titan god of light; therefore Hamlet is commenting on the shiny luster of his father’s locks. Hamlet describes his father’s face as that of the king of the gods in Roman mythology. Hamlet believed his father was both a great warrior, like the Roman god of war, Mars, and a great diplomat, like the messenger god, Mercury. These allusions all serve to compare the late king to a god. Yet, despite Hamlet’s exaggerated similes and metaphors, the king was only a man, one that was fated to death and judgment, possibly proving the futility in striving to gain control over destiny.

Act V, Scene I “To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why, may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till he find it stopping a bung hole…Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make loam, and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel? Imperious Caesar, dead and turn’d to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away…” (V. i. 189-200) -Hamlet

This quote is spoken by Hamlet while he is in the graveyard, a setting which leads to this discussion of death and remembrance. Hamlet, upon seeing clowns throw about skulls with no respect, wonders what has become of the remains of great men like Alexander, the Macedonian king who conquered the Persian empire, and Caesar, the famous Roman leader and conqueror. The syntax of this passage emphasizes the brevity of life and control by natural forces even after death, speaking in a series of short clauses (Alexander died, Alexander was buried, etc.). Hamlet is beginning to realize that even great men could not escape the clutches of Fate.

Act V, Scene I -Hamlet “Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day…” (V. i. 277-278) -Hamlet

This quote alludes to Hercules, a hero of Greek mythology This quote alludes to Hercules, a hero of Greek mythology. Hercules was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Alcmene; he performed heroic feats (the Twelve Labors) and was rewarded after his death with immortality at Mount Olympus. This quotation is a display of Hamlet’s dynamic growth in character. Hamlet, realizing the role played by fate in one’s life, decides to act, rather than trying to hide from destiny through inaction. This quote asserts that while gods may have the power to control their lives, fortune holds power over humanity. This is also the last time Hamlet puts on his antic disposition, speaking the last line in a sarcastic, jovial tone.

Act V, Scene II -Horatio “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here’s yet some liquor left…” (V. ii. 323-324) -Horatio

Heratio makes this statement directly following the poisoning of Gertrude and the stabbings of Laertes, Hamlet, and Claudius. In ancient Rome, it was commonly believed that it was more honorable to commit suicide than to live a dishonored life. Danes were Christian, who were strongly opposed to suicide, as discussed early in Act V following Ophelia’s death. These few lines depict Horatio as a foil to the fallen Hamlet, ready to give his life and his beliefs at a moment’s notice for something he feels strongly about in contrast to Hamlet’s delayed act of revenge for his murdered father. Horatio is put into a situation where he can decide his own fate of life or death, but instead lets fortune take control, as does most of mankind. The option of suicide was a way to elude the hands of fate, but Hamlet, by this point in the play, has matured enough to know that fate is inescapable, showing the traits of a dynamic character.

Concluding Thematic Statement The play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is about fate and reveals that one is often unable to control one’s destiny.

Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Jeff Dolven. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2007. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, Inc., 1992.