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

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.

3. 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.”

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.”

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.”

10. 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

11. 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

12. Citations
Tiffany, Grace. "Hamlet, reconciliation, and the just state." Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature 58.2 (2005):  General OneFile. Web. 17 Oct
Perry, Curtis. "Seneca and the modernity of Hamlet." Illinois Classical Studies 40.2 (2015): 407+. Academic OneFile. Web. 17 Oct
Croxford, Leslie. "The uses of interpretation in Hamlet." Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics 24 (2004): 93+. General OneFile. Web. 17 Oct