Similarities Between A Modest Proposal And Hamlet

Thesis: Shakespeares Hamlet and Swifts A Modest proposal are both successful works, but had different vibes when comparing religious, political and social class conflicts during there respective time period. Topic: The religious conflict at the time between the Christians and the Protestants is reflected in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Swift’s A Modest Proposal. Quote: “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”(1.5.6) Analysis: Purgatorial spirits weren’t in the habit of asking living relatives to murder other people since murder was a huge sin for both Protestants and Catholics during this time period, especially if they wanted to go to heaven. Quote: “O, that this too sullied flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into

Quote: “O, villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! My tables, meet it, is I set it down. That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; at least im sure it may be so in Denmark. (1.5.114-117) Analysis: Hamlet hated deception and wanted truth. He was trapped in a political world where deception is a part of life and politics. Quote: “For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our dangerous enemies.” (p.210) Analysis: The argument is that if the Irish children are eaten, there will be fewer Irish Catholics to contend with. This line is an example of the religious prejudices during the Reformation of the 18th Century. Quote “These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to beg sustenance for their helpless infants, who as they grow up, leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain. Analysis: Swift believes that children who grew up blaming the wealthy Protestants could eventually take matters into their own

Quote: “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for the landlords, who, as they already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title for the children.”(12) Analysis: Swift hated the idea of political greed. many of his political arguments were actually moral ones, arguing for charity toward the Irish. Quote: “I have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play have by the very cunning of the scene been struck so to the soul that presently. They have proclaim’d their malefactions; for murder, thought it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ.(2.2.59) Analysis: When King Claudius watches a murder take place on stage, his response will tell if he’s guilty of murdering Old King Hamlet. This may sound weird, out Elizabethans believed that theater was a special place.
Quote: “He may love you now, and may have only the best intentions, but you have to be on your guard. Remember that he belongs to the royal family, and his intentions don’t matter that much--he’s a slave to his family