Can anyone give me some examples of when Hamlet alludes to scripture? Thanks!
Hamlet and scripture
Can anyone give me some examples of when Hamlet alludes to scripture? Thanks!
As I said, Hamlet alludes to Abel, blood, crowing, dust, cherubim, sparrow, devil, spirit, Jephthah and many more.
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When he does allude to scripture what purpose does he have?
I mean when he compares his father with "jove himself...hyperion's curls...Mars"... his purpose is to almost create this deity like, omnipotent image of his dead father....but where else in the play does he use scripture for a purpose?
Everywhere there's an allusion to scripture.Originally Posted by whiteangel
well yes, but what is the purpose of this?
Last edited by whiteangel; 01-04-2009 at 03:33 PM.
Each Biblical allusion has it's own distinct purposes.
yes that is true,
but I suppose the point I am making is; he could have used anything to make references to things in the play, but he specifically chooses to allude to the Bible....the question is why... hmm
One way you could approach the question of "why" is to recall that many of Shakespeare's plays contain biblical references. Perhaps the answer to your question is simply that Shakespeare was familiar with the Bible and found it a useful resource to borrow from.
It's also possible that Hamlet regularly makes biblical references because he's interested in religious or spiritual matters and issues of issues of morality, life and death. I tend to favor this view.
A much more likely answer is that Shakespeare's readers, particularly the literate, were familiar with the Bible.
Yes, I think you both have good points.
Perhaps also to reinforce the religious theme of the play.....if there is one....I like to think not.
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