Download A bit about allusions in the Player`s speech (2.2) Priam , in Greek

A bit about allusions in the Player’s speech (2.2)
Priam , in Greek mythology, king of Troy during the Trojan War, son of Laomedon. Priam had
several wives and was the father of 50 sons and many daughters. His chief wife, Hecuba, bore
him 19 children, including Hector, Paris, Polyxena, Helenus, Cassandra, Troilus, Creusa,
Polydorus, and Deiphobus. When the Greeks sacked Troy, Priam was killed by Neoptolemus
(aka Pyrrhus)
Hecuba , in Greek mythology, chief wife of Priam, king of Troy. Hecuba bore to Priam 19
children, including Paris, Hector, Troilus, Cassandra, and others who were prominent in the
Trojan War. To save Polydorus, her youngest son, from the Greeks, Hecuba sent him to
Polymnestor, king of Thrace. After the sack of Troy she was allotted to Odysseus, who on his
way home stopped at Thrace. Learning there that Polymnestor had murdered Polydorus, Hecuba,
in revenge, blinded the king and killed his children.
Neoptolemus (Pyrrhus), in Greek legend, son of Achilles. In the Trojan War he proved himself
brave but cruel. He killed Priam at the altar of Zeus and threw Astyanax, son of Hector, from the
wall of Troy. After the war he took Andromache as a slave to his kingdom in Epirus. Later he
abandoned her for Hermione. He was killed at Delphi for an outrage he committed against the
shrine. In Euripides' Andromache, Orestes murders him to win the love of Hermione. He was
sometimes called Pyrrhus.
For Hamlet – Examine how these figures from Greek mythology act as foils for characters in the
play. For example, look at how Hecuba’s reaction to her husband’s murder is portrayed in the
player’s monologue. Explore the implied comparison to Gertrude (possible foil). Also note that
in Greek mythology, Hecuba carries out revenge on Polymnestor after he kills her son and
therefore also serves as a kind of foil for Hamlet. Look at Pyrrhus’ attitude toward killing Priam
as depicted in the player’s speech – the imagery will resurface later when Hamelt contemplates
killing Claudius, suggesting that Pyrrhus may also be a type of foil for Hamlet, at least when it
comes to the act of killing. In all of these allusions, the presence or absence of hesitation in
connection with murder and revenge is significant.