- Scene 1 (Act 1 Scene 1) [~ Who's There? ~]
Julius Caesar- EH 124+7: A little ere the mightiest Julius fell
Julius Caesar was a leader of ancient Rome, slain by Brutus and others on the Ides of March. In Hamlet, all the major events relate, in one way or another, to the death of the King. The well-known fact of Caesar dying on the Ides of March is part of what sets Hamlet in the springtime.
Neptune- EH 124+12: Upon whose influence Neptune's Empire stands,
Neptune is the Roman god of water and the sea, generally equated to the ancient Greek god Poseidon. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hades, which are equivalent to the Roman gods Jupiter and Pluto. Neptune/Poseidon is also the god of horses, relevant to the Horse motif in Hamlet. Poseidon was on the side of the Greeks in the Trojan War. The ocean is most obviously relevant in Hamlet when Hamlet is sent away on a voyage to England, but unexpectedly returns.
Jesus Christ- EH 158: Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated
The most notable incident in Hamlet involving Jesus is when Ophelia 'madly' displays confusion between Hamlet and Jesus in Scene 16.
Scene 2 (Act 1 Scene 2) [~ Too Too Sallied ~]
Cain and Abel [implicit allusion]- EH 287: From the first course
"Course" puns with "corse," which is an obsolete spelling of "corpse." In the Bible, Book of Genesis, Cain and Abel were the first sons born to Adam and Eve. The first murder was committed when Cain slew Abel, because of envy. Thus, Claudius's phrase "first course/corse" is allusion to Abel, the first murder victim. The story of Cain and Abel is told in Genesis 4. A point seldom mentioned in relation to Hamlet is that God protected Cain from being slain after he killed his brother, which can be read as relevant to Hamlet not killing Claudius in the Prayer Scene, Scene 10.
Hyperion- EH 324: Hyperion to a satire
In Greek mythology, Hyperion is one of the Titans, and the father of Helios, the sun god. Also, Helios, himself, is sometimes referred to as Hyperion, so there is confusion of the names. With respect to Hamlet, the most significant concept is "sun" which gives an implicit pun with "son," Hamlet being the main "son" in the play. Additionally, the name confusion, Hyperion/Helios, goes along with Hamlet and his father having the same name.
satyr- EH 324: Hyperion to a satire
The spelling used in the original publications, "satire," includes wordplay that Hamlet considers Claudius only a satire, or caricature, of a king, and not a proper king. In Greek mythology, a satyr is a semi-human creature, attendant on Bacchus, the god of wine. Hamlet uses the term to insult Claudius as a drunk who's less than human.
Niobe- EH 333: Like Niobe, all tears
In Greek Mythology, Niobe was a woman who was too proud of how many children she had, so that the gods slew her children. In pity for her weeping the gods changed her to stone, but even as a stone statue she continued to weep. In the story line of Hamlet, Hamlet's mention of Gertrude weeping like Niobe while following King Hamlet's body has more significance than has been generally recognized. Mention of Niobe well suits a tragedy in which the "children" Hamlet, Ophelia, and Laertes die.
Hercules- EH 337: Than I to Hercules
In Greek mythology, Hercules was the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmena. He was the emblem of strength, and is best known for his twelve labors, which were acts of penance he performed after he killed his wife and children in a fit of madness. The madness element of the Hercules myth obviously connects to the Madness theme in Hamlet.
Scene 3 (Act 1 Scene 3) [~ Thine Ownself ~]
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Scene 4 (Act 1 Scene 4) [~ Rotten in Denmark ~]
Nemean Lion- EH 670: As hardy as the Nemean Lion's nerve;
The first Labor of Hercules was to kill the Nemean Lion, which was said to be the offspring of Typhon, the monstrous god of the wind, and Echidna, called the mother of all monsters. The Nemean Lion's skin was impervious to arrows, so Hercules stunned it with his club and then strangled it. Hamlet's mention of the Nemean Lion expresses his determination to face the Ghost, even if it kills him. The imperviousness of the Nemean Lion's skin is relevant to the later remark by Claudius, in Scene 18, line EH 3029, about his "arrows" not being able to hurt Hamlet.
Scene 5 (Act 1 Scene 5) [~ Murder Most Foul ~]
Lazarus- EH 757: Most Lazarlike with vile and loathsome crust
Lazarus is an individual in the Gospel of Luke, in the Bible. He was a diseased beggar who was denied charity by a rich man. In the afterlife, Lazarus was rewarded and the rich man was tormented. The Roman Catholic Church venerates Lazarus as the patron saint of lepers, thus the Ghost's description of having leper-like skin. The Bible story of Lazarus mentions rising from the dead, which relates to Hamlet appearing to "rise from the dead" in the Graveyard, when Claudius first sees Hamlet after his return.
Saint Patrick- EH 829: Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. His feast day is March 17th, the same as the feast day of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, who is associated with Queen Gertrude in Hamlet. Legend credits Saint Patrick with driving all the snakes out of Ireland, which is relevant to the Ghost casting Claudius as a serpent. Legend also associates Saint Patrick with Purgatory, which is relevant to the Ghost's insinuation of being in Purgatory, which is never explicitly stated in the play, however.
Truepenny- EH 846: Ha, ha, boy, say'st thou so, art thou there trupenny?
"Truepenny" is the name of a character in the play Ralph Roister Doister, by Nicholas Udall, which was the first comedy play printed in the English language. Ralph Roister Doister was well known in Elizabethan times, but is hardly known today. Hamlet uses the name, Truepenny, facetiously in reference to this line in Ralph Roister Doister: "Ye are a slow goer, sir." Hamlet is remarking that although the Ghost said "adieu" it has not left yet, at least by the evidence of its voice. Hamlet contains several references to Ralph Roister Doister, and the very subtle reference to Ralph Roister Doister in the 'Closet Scene' in Hamlet is a significant plot element.
Scene 6 (Act 2 Scene 1) [~ Madness of Love ~]
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Scene 7 (Act 2 Scene 2) [~ R & G Arrive ~]
Dame Fortune- EH 1273: Happy, in that we are not ever-happy on Fortune's lap,
Roscius- EH 1438: when Roscius was an actor
Quintus Roscius Gallus was the most famous actor in ancient Rome, and his name became a byword for excellence in acting.
Seneca- EH 1447: Seneca cannot be too heavy,
Plautus- EH 1448: Plautus too light
Jephthah- EH 1451: O Jephthah, Judge of Israel,
Aeneas- EH 1489: t'was Aeneas' talk to Dido,
Aeneas is the hero of the Aeneid, an epic poem by the Roman poet Virgil. Aeneas fought in the Trojan War, on the side of Troy, and escaped after the city fell. He then traveled to Carthage, where he spent time with Queen Dido. Later, he traveled to Italy. In legend, his descendants founded Rome. Also in legend, Aeneas had a grandson named Brutus (not the same as the fellow who helped assassinate Julius Caesar) who founded Britain, and was Britain's first king.
Dido- EH 1489: t'was Aeneas' talk to Dido,
Priam- EH 1490: speaks of Priam's slaughter,
Pyrrhus- EH 1492: the rugged Pyrrhus
Cyclops- EH 1529: And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall,
Mars- EH 1530: On Mar's armor,
Hecuba- EH 1540: say on, come to Hecuba.
Gonzago- EH 1578: can you play the murder of Gonzago?
john-o'-dreams- EH 1608: like john-o'-dreams
Scene 8 (Act 3 Scene 1) [~ Nunnery Scene ~]
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Scene 9 (Act 3 Scene 2) [~ The Mousetrap ~]
Termagant- EH 1861: over-doing Termagant
Herod- EH 1861: it out-Herods Herod
Vulcan- EH 1935: As Vulcan's stithy;
Brutus- EH 1959: Brutus killed me.
Phoebus- EH 2024: hath Phoebus' cart gone round
Tellus- EH 2025: and Tellus orbed the ground
Hymen- EH 2028: and Hymen did our hands
Baptista- EH 2107: Baptista
Lucianus- EH 2110-2: This is one Lucianus
Hecate- EH 2128: With Hecat's ban thrice blasted,
Hecate is a goddess in Greek mythology. Typically for mythological figures, many ideas are associated with her. Of most significance to Hamlet, she is the chief goddess of magic. In other associations, perhaps also of significance, she has been viewed as having power to return a woman's lover; as associated with a crossroads; as associated with graves and the dead; as presiding when the soul leaves the body at death; and her favored animal is the dog. Of additional interest, directly related to the 'Mousetrap Play' speech of Lucianus, and its reference to "thrice," Hecate is depicted in triplicity, having three bodies joined. Among Greek sources, she's mentioned in the poetic works of Hesiod, and of Theocritus.
Damon [of Damon and Pythias]- EH 2153: Oh Damon dear
In Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who traveled together to Syracuse, where Pythias was accused of plotting against the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius I, and was condemned to death. Damon asked the tyrant to imprison him instead, so that Pythias could return home and bid his family farewell. It was agreed, on condition that if Pythias did not return, Damon would be executed in his place. Pythias left, with Damon imprisoned. Pythias was delayed, and returned just in time to save Damon from being executed. In one vesion of the story, the delay was caused by pirates. Dionysius was so impressed by their friendship, he released them both. The story of Damon and Pythias became the model of loyal friendship.
In Hamlet, reference to the Greek legend provides a high compliment by Hamlet to his friend Horatio, but in voicing the line Hamlet casts himself as Pythias, which is not so good for Hamlet, since Pythias was the one condemned to death. Shakespeare would have known the story from common knowledge. Also, an English play, 'Damon and Pythias,' written by Richard Edwards, was published in 1571.
Jove- EH 2154: Of Jove, himself,
Nero- EH 2265: The soul of Nero
Scene 10 (Act 3 Scene 3) [~ Prayer Scene ~]
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Scene 11 (Act 3 Scene 4) [~ Closet Scene ~]
Mercury- EH 2442: A station like the herald Mercury
Socrates [implicit]- EH 2570: and like the famous ape
jackanapes [implicit: Jac Napes]- EH 2570: and like the famous ape
Scene 12 (Act 4 Scene 1) [~ Discord and Dismay ~]
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Scene 13 (Act 4 Scene 2) [~ The Body ~]
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Scene 14 (Act 4 Scene 3) [~ For England ~]
cherub- EH 2712: I see a cherub
Scene 15 (Act 4 Scene 4) [~ Fortinbrasse ~]
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Scene 16 (Act 4 Scene 5) [~ Baker's Daughter ~]
Saint James of Compostela [implicit allusion]- EH 2770: By his cockle hat and staff
Saint James "the Greater" is a figure from Biblical times, the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of the disciple John. James was one of those called by Jesus to become a "fisher of men." He was martyred by Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great. He's mentioned in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and in Acts, but not in the Gospel of St. John, his own brother.
Legend associates St James with Compostela, Spain. According to tradition he preached in Spain, and after his death his body was translated to Compostela by a miracle. Be that as it may, the tradition made Compostela a popular place of pilgrimmage. St James became the national patron of Spain, and Christian soldiers fought under the banner of St James to drive the Moors out of Spain. St James became emblematically associated with "the sword" of Christian righteousness.
In Hamlet, Ophelia casts Hamlet's trip to England as a pilgrimage, like a pilgrimage in honor of St James of Compostela, which probably involves name wordplay with James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England. Also, Hamlet, in the Closet Scene, refers to the picture of Claudius as that of a "moor," offering an analogy to Spanish history, with Hamlet as the "Christian soldier" trying to drive out the "Moor," Claudius. Hamlet's return when the pirates release him implies him returning from his pilgrimage with "the sword," which is ironic in advance of the fencing match that involves swords in the shape of foils.
Saint Valentine- EH 2790: Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day,
Saint Charity- EH 2796: and by Saint Charity,
Otos and Ephialtes, the Aloeidae [implicit allusion]- EH 2866: That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?
Claudius's line has allusion to the myth of the Aloeidae, Otos and Ephialtes, sons of Aloeus, who were twin giants that attempted to storm the heavenly home of the gods, by piling up the three mountains, Olympus, Ossa, and Pelion, on top of each other. Ares (Mars) tried to stop them, but was defeated and imprisoned by them until he was rescued by Hermes (Mercury.) Artemis (Diana) caused their deaths when she raced between them in the shape of a deer. The giants took aim with their spears, but missed her and instead struck each other dead. Oddly, the two giants were also credited with being the first to sacrifice to the Muses on Mt Helikon. The word Aloeidae can also be found spelled "Aloadai," "Aloadae," and "Aloiadae," and "Aloiadai." Suggested etymologies of the giants' names include ideas of "owl," "doom," and "nightmare," all of which appear as ideas in Hamlet.
Scene 17 (Act 4 Scene 6) [~ Thieves of Mercy ~]
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Scene 18 (Act 4 Scene 7) [~ Naked ~]
Achilles [implicit allusion]- EH 3027: dipping all his faults in their affection
Scene 19 (Act 5 Scene 1) [~ Poor Yorick ~]
Adam- EH 3219: Adam's profession
Saint Claudius [implicit allusion]- EH 3230: the mason
Saint Peter [implicit allusion]- EH 3231: Shipwright
Saint Joseph [implicit allusion]- EH 3231: or the carpenter?
Yaughan- EH 3250: to Yaughan
Alexander the Great- EH 3385: Does thou think Alexander looked
Scene 20 (Act 5 Scene 2) [~ Fencing Match ~]
[none]
~-end-~
(Regained)
Here is a list of figures, other than the play characters, that are mentioned in Hamlet. Some are real historical persons, some are Biblical, others are figures of legend, myth, or fiction.
(This page is currently "Under Construction.")
The figures are presented in the order in which they're mentioned in the Hamlet playtext. They're only briefly described here. The goal is to assist the reader in understanding the playtext, and to provide enough information to guide the reader in learning more, if desired, by doing a web search, or by using library facilities. Some figures are mentioned more than once in the play, but only the first mention is listed here.
The name of each figure is followed by a brief quote of the line from the play where the figure is mentioned. The quotes are given in the original Second Quarto or First Folio language, but the spelling may, or may not, be modernized, depending on whether the original spelling appears to have significance.
Also, the name of each figure is followed by a line number preceded by "EH," which refers to the line numbers in the Enfolded Hamlet by Bernice W. Kliman. As described elsewhere on this website, the EH line numbers are a reference for serious students of Hamlet to find historical commentary and other information about the play, at the Hamlet Works website. See the Hamlet (Regained) Links page for a link to Hamlet Works, and also a link to the Enfolded Hamlet. The EH numbers may be ignored by the casual reader.
The figures on this page are discussed in the following order.
- Julius Caesar
- Neptune
- Jesus Christ
- Cain and Abel [implicit allusion]
- Hyperion
- satyr
- Niobe
- Hercules
- Nemean Lion
- Lazarus
- Saint Patrick
- Truepenny
- Dame Fortune
- Roscius
- Seneca
- Plautus
- Jephthah
- Aeneas
- Dido
- Priam
- Pyrrhus
- Cyclops
- Mars
- Hecuba
- Gonzago
- john-o'-dreams
- Termagant
- Herod
- Vulcan
- Brutus
- Phoebus
- Tellus
- Hymen
- Baptista
- Lucianus
- Hecate
- Damon (and Pythias)
- Jove
- Nero
- Mercury
- Socrates
- jackanapes [implicit allusion]
- cherub
- Saint James of Compostela [implicit allusion]
- Saint Valentine
- Saint Charity
- Otos and Ephialtes, the Aloeidae [implicit allusion]
- Achilles [implicit allusion]
- Adam
- Saint Claudius [implicit allusion]
- Saint Peter [implicit allusion]
- Saint Joseph [implicit allusion]
- Alexander the Great