4 Matching Annotations
  1. Dec 2022
    1. But leaving with the Judge what, till this earth Be cancell’d in the burning heavens, He leaves His earthly delegates to execute,

      This seems to be a nod towards the Spanish Inquisition. This play was written during the time of the Inquisition which had a history of declaring plays heretical. "The Inquisition, which had begun in 1478 has control over the heresies against Catholocism." The line from the play seems to be directly in line with the inquisition's beliefs. Had this play not conformed to that it may not be as prevalent or even known today. That raises the question, how did the Spanish Inquisition affect plays at the time?

      iomek, Henry K. A History of Spanish Golden Age Drama. University Press of Kentucky, 2014.

    1. No hat upon his head, his stockings foul’d,

      Stockings were a common staple for men to wear during the renaissance. Circulating different clothes was also common as for royalty as well. Something our distressed Hamlet wasn't keeping up on. this article shows an account of this: "Over a period of five years from 1608 to 1613, James 1 bought a new cloak every month, a new waistcoat every three weeks, a new suit every ten days, a new pair of stockings, boots, and garters every four or five days, and a new pair of gloves every day." Jones, Ann Rosalind, and Peter Stallybrass. Renaissance clothing and the materials of memory. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

    1. The wisest Brahman

      The word "brahman" is a core part of the philosophical outlook of Hinduism. It is the unchanging, infinite, always accepting, and transcendent form of reality. It is this core belief that makes Hinduism fall in line with the belief of "living in harmony with the basic spiritual truths of existence". Chaudhuri, Haridas. “The Concept of Brahman in Hindu Philosophy.” Philosophy East and West, vol. 4, no. 1, 1954, pp. 47–66. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1396951. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

  2. Sep 2022
    1. The Fates pursue.

      Many Greek dramas have plenty of references to a human's inescapable fate. This line is a direct reference to The Fates which are a culmination of 3 Greek goddesses. Their names Are: Clotho meaning "The Spinner", Lachesis "The Allotter" and Atropos meaning "The Unturning". They are responsible for creating a mortal's destiny and ensuring they see it through. In most depictions of The Fates, their power precedes the Gods. With the Gods only being able to see a mortal's fate, rather than being able to control it.