Allusions In Hamlet

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a profound play that has withstood the test of time. Its intricate exploration of betrayal, revenge, existential angst, and the quest for truth have captivated audiences since its conception during the turn of the 17th century. At the heart of Hamlet lies a legion of classical allusions, with references to Ancient Rome and its legacy playing an important role in creating the narrative and thematic depth of the play that makes it so renowned. Shakespeare's education at the Stratford grammar school, as with most Elizabethan education, most likely consisted of “an intense emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays”. His attendance at this school up until about

(3.1.64-68) Here, Hamlet contemplates the stoic dilemma of enduring life's hardships with dignity to the temptation to escape them through death. This soliloquy reflects the preoccupation with the endurance of suffering and the rational contemplation of death. This thought process can be reflected in the works of Seneca himself, where he writes “A man who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary”. Although Hamlet may not have fully been immersed in Stoicism at the time, we see his mental state and philosophy evolve. Later in the play, before his duel with Laertes, Hamlet states “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, / Rough-hew them how we will”. This aligns more with Stoicism than his thinking previously, particularly in this one excerpt from Seneca’s On Mercy: “The greatest empire.is to be the emperor of oneself”. Hamlet's journey toward self-governance and acceptance of his fate echoes this sentiment through his acceptance of fate and that one can only control their actions, not necessarily the