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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
These lines are taken from Virgil's The Aeneid. The story is told by Aeneas to Dido the queen of Carthage who has taken him in. Pyrrhus is the son of Achilles (whose death in the Trojan War is described in the Illiad). After the Trojan horse is dragged into the city, the Trojans party and the Greeks in the horse take advantage of that and lay siege on the city. Priam is the king of the Trojans. He is an old man who tries to defend himself and his family from the ruthless Pyrrhus, who is trying to advange his own father's death. He shows no mercy (as Hamlet would like to do). The connection to the play and story is that Hamlet is spurred on to revenge when he is reminded of the way that Hecuba reacted to her husband's (Priam) death. This is contrasted with the way that Gertrude acted; Hecuba was distraught and pius, Gertrude married her husband's murderer. Probably the best translation of the Aeneid is that of Robert Fitzgerald, it can be found anywhere.Posted by Kim on March 22, 1997 at 15:05:42
In Reply to "Hamlet:Priam, Phyrrus...wher can i find their story?" posted by Sarah on March 20, 1997 at 17:22:51
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help