Allusions In Hamlet
Hamlet written by Shakespeare during the years of 1599 – 1601. Throughout this play there are many allusions that are portrayed towards the Elizabethan audience that only people from their time period would understand. When I first read over these lines I thought nothing of it and did not understand these words thrown at me, which required me to do research. If a line in a play requires research for an audience t understand it then those lines need to me modernized, which is why I have come up with my own translations. First in Act 1 scene 1 line 14 the text refers to someone named Julius which some people may not know it Julius Caesar the Emperor of Rome. Thus referring to when he was assassinated. Second, during Act 3 scene 2 line 14 when
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“It out herods Herod”(Hamlet III,ii,14) which secretly tells the actors to not mess anything up. Hamlet applies such a description to a bad actor if him or her cant deliver their lines properly and identify the extent of a hyperbole. My translation is “You had better avoid my wrath I will work you to the bone”. Thus, allowing the audience to understand what hamlet is trying to say a lot easier. Especially for teenage audiences. Last, at the start of Act II scene ii line 14 when Hamlet says “I would have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant”(Hamlet II,ii,14) Hamlet is telling the other actors not to over do their role in the play. Shakespeare demands perfection and if he does not get it he is mad and if you are the one that ruined his play he would have that person whipped. “I will have you whipped if you act like Sofia Coppola, in The Godfather part 3.”My translation is would you overdo this again I will have you become my whipping boy. To conclude, in order to appeal to teenage modern audiences the allusion need to be updated to modern language to be accepted by a wide range of perspectives. Allusions in plays are a essential part to Shakespeare's works and if people don’t understand what he is trying to say then they wont have the greatest amount of effect on them. Which is why these three need to be updated to modern English not meant for an Elizabethan
“It out herods Herod”(Hamlet III,ii,14) which secretly tells the actors to not mess anything up. Hamlet applies such a description to a bad actor if him or her cant deliver their lines properly and identify the extent of a hyperbole. My translation is “You had better avoid my wrath I will work you to the bone”. Thus, allowing the audience to understand what hamlet is trying to say a lot easier. Especially for teenage audiences. Last, at the start of Act II scene ii line 14 when Hamlet says “I would have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant”(Hamlet II,ii,14) Hamlet is telling the other actors not to over do their role in the play. Shakespeare demands perfection and if he does not get it he is mad and if you are the one that ruined his play he would have that person whipped. “I will have you whipped if you act like Sofia Coppola, in The Godfather part 3.”My translation is would you overdo this again I will have you become my whipping boy. To conclude, in order to appeal to teenage modern audiences the allusion need to be updated to modern language to be accepted by a wide range of perspectives. Allusions in plays are a essential part to Shakespeare's works and if people don’t understand what he is trying to say then they wont have the greatest amount of effect on them. Which is why these three need to be updated to modern English not meant for an Elizabethan