The Allusions
The Player‟s play
Hamlet says “‟twas Aeneas‟ tale
to Dido and thereabout of it
especially when he speaks of
Priam‟s slaughter.” (II.2.471474)
• This story is taken entirely from Virgil‟s
Aeneid, which is Aeneas telling Queen
Dido of the Trojan War.
“the rugged Pyrrhus, whose sable arms, black as his
purpose, did the night resemble when he lay couched in
th‟omnious horse” (II.2.477-479)
• Pyrrhus is Achilles‟ son.
• Achilles has just been killed by Paris of Troy by
being shot through the ankle with an arrow.
• See, when Achilles was a baby, his nymph
mother dunked him into the River Styx to make
him immortal, and held him by his ankle. So his
ankle was the way to kill him.
The Background – why Paris
killed Achilles.
• When Hector is killed by Achilles, Achilles treats the
body with disrespect and refuses to give it back.
• Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam,
Hector‟s father and the ruler of Troy, into the Achaean
camp. Priam tearfully pleads with Achilles to take pity on
a father bereft of his son and return Hector‟s body
• Deeply moved, Achilles finally relents and returns
Hector‟s corpse to the Trojans. Both sides agree to a
temporary truce, and Hector receives a hero‟s funeral.
Achilles further goes on to give Priam leave to hold a
proper funeral for Hector complete with funeral games.
He promises that no Greek will engage in combat for 11
days, but on the 12th the war would resume.
Hector was Paris‟ Brother,both
sons of King Priam and his wife
Hecuba.
DAD
Mom
• Priam
• King of Troy
Hector
Prince of Troy
Hecuba
Queen of Troy
Brothers
Paris
Prince of Troy
“Roasted in wrath and fire, and
thus o‟ersized with coagulate
gore, with eyes like carbuncles,
the hellish Pyrrhus old grandsire
Priam seeks” (II.2.486-489)
• So Pyrrhus figures if Paris killed his father,
he would kill Paris‟ father.
See? Pyrrhus is black with his
intent and kills Priam.
“But who, ah woe, had seen the
mobled queen run barefoot up
and down, threatening the
flames…” (II.2.527-530)
• Priam‟s wife, Hecuba is upset at her
husbands death, so much so that..
• “..If the gods themselves did see her then
when she saw Pyrrhus make malicious
sport in mincing with his sword her
husband‟s limbs the instant burst of clamor
that she made (unless things mortal move
them not at all) would have made milch
the burning eyes of heaven and passion in
the gods”(II.2.438-544).
Therefore
• Hecuba‟s display of grief when Priam dies
is mighty.
• Hamlet reflects on his own revenge
schemes.
• He also reflects on his own mother‟s grief
when his own father dies.
• This is why…
Polonius observes
• “look whe‟er he has not
turned his color and has
tears in „s eyes” (II.2.545546).
• Poor Hamlet.
This Think Aloud Soliloquy
• Hamlet is talking about the actor who
played Hecuba.
• He sees his passion and wonders why he
doesn‟t have that same passion for a
REAL tragedy (instead of a play)
• He yells at himself, calls himself names to
try to spur his revenge.
• He plans how he will catch Claudius.