Chasing down Allusions in Hamlet

“Look here upon this picture, and on this,—
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
See what a grace was seated on this brow;
Hyperion's curls; the front of Jove himself;
An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;
A station like the herald Mercury
New lighted on a heaven-kissing hill:
A combination and a form, indeed,
Where every god did seem to set his seal,
To give the world assurance of a man;
This was your husband.” (3.4, 61-71)

So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother,
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! (1.2, 139-142)

Act III is abounding with allusions. During Scene IV, Hamlet confronts his mother and candidly expresses his dismay with his mother’s irreverence to his father. He uses a multitude of allusions to describe his father. In particular, Hamlet references his father twice to Hyperion, the Greek god of the Sun.
Hamlet illustrates his father as god-like, possessing their finest features like Hyperion’s curls. He also represents his father as the sun god Hyperion. The sun represents a central body around which the earth and planets rotate and are held in orbit. The sun also sustains life. Hamlet is alluding to the fact that his father was a great king, a strong and dynamic leader that cared for his family and populace. The sun symbolizes warmth, glory, triumph and inner light, all fine qualities reflected upon his father. A good king, like the sun, is also a watcher from above which is another beautiful illustration of his father. It is evident that Hamlet greatly loved his father and is baffled by how his mother quickly moved on after his death to marry Claudius that he refers to as a satyr. Hamlet depicts her new husband as a satyr, which in Greek mythology is a half human and half goat creature that indulges in drunkenness and lust. Hamlet also uses a play on words in which he refers to Claudius as a “satire” meaning he was a parody of a king. This contrast effectively depicts Hamlet’s feelings about his mother’s new husband. This passage and use of allusions further develop the theme by embedding a huge visual contrast with the audience between the victim of the conflict, Hamlet’s father, and the antagonist, Claudius.

Sources

Jordan, Jeffrey Paul. "Historical, Legendary and Mythical Figures." Hamlet (Regained). Jeffrey Paul Jordan, 21 Dec 2008. Web. 17 Jul 2011. .

Mabillard,, Amanda. "Hamlet." Shakespeare Online. N.p., 13 Dec 2009. Web. 17 Jul 2011. >.

Shakespeare, William, Jonathan Bate, and Eric Rasmussen. Hamlet. Modern Library, 2008. Print.