Hamlet Vs. Gladiator
Shakespeare's Hamlet
Written around 1600
Revenge tragedy was a well established type of drama in the Elizabethan period
Antagonist murders relative protagonist and protagonist revenges the murder
Hamlet = Petrie Dish
One of the most famous plays in English literature
Scott’s Gladiator
Released May 5, 2000
Revenge tragedy
Maximus = man driven by vengeance and the need to survive
One of the best movies of the 21st century
Won 5 Oscars
Best Picture
Best Actor
Hamlet
Hamlet’s father is murdered by Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle
Failed execution of Hamlet
Incest – Brother and Sister in law
Hamlet finds himself isolated and detached from society
Driven by revenge
Confidant
Ends in duel where both protagonist and antagonist die
Gladiator
Maximus’ family and father figure Emperor Marcus Aurelius are murdered by Commodus, his “brother”
Failed execution
Attempted Incest – Brother and Sister
Maximus loses all he cares for, leaving him cast out and alone
Driven by revenge
Confidants
Ends in duel where both protagonist and antagonist die
Goals
Shakespeare and Scott share the goal of appealing to the mass with their works.
Scott incorporates an array of cinematic techniques
Subject of gladiators is still fascinating today
Scott makes a true film
The theme of revenge and consumed thoughts of death
Hamlet does not find his true purpose until act one scene five. In this scene Hamlet has an important encounter with the ghost of his dead father. Act 1 Scene 5 line 24- 28Hamlet- "O God!"Ghost- "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."Hamlet-" Murder?"Ghost- " Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange, and unnatural."This and the rest of the scene are where the theme first takes root. After Hamlet swears to his father to get revenge he spends the rest of the book finding away to get that revenge.
Gladiator In the beginning of the movie the main character Maximus Decimus Maridius is a roman general. As Marcus Aurelius,
Written around 1600
Revenge tragedy was a well established type of drama in the Elizabethan period
Antagonist murders relative protagonist and protagonist revenges the murder
Hamlet = Petrie Dish
One of the most famous plays in English literature
Scott’s Gladiator
Released May 5, 2000
Revenge tragedy
Maximus = man driven by vengeance and the need to survive
One of the best movies of the 21st century
Won 5 Oscars
Best Picture
Best Actor
Hamlet
Hamlet’s father is murdered by Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle
Failed execution of Hamlet
Incest – Brother and Sister in law
Hamlet finds himself isolated and detached from society
Driven by revenge
Confidant
Ends in duel where both protagonist and antagonist die
Gladiator
Maximus’ family and father figure Emperor Marcus Aurelius are murdered by Commodus, his “brother”
Failed execution
Attempted Incest – Brother and Sister
Maximus loses all he cares for, leaving him cast out and alone
Driven by revenge
Confidants
Ends in duel where both protagonist and antagonist die
Goals
Shakespeare and Scott share the goal of appealing to the mass with their works.
Scott incorporates an array of cinematic techniques
Subject of gladiators is still fascinating today
Scott makes a true film
The theme of revenge and consumed thoughts of death
Hamlet does not find his true purpose until act one scene five. In this scene Hamlet has an important encounter with the ghost of his dead father. Act 1 Scene 5 line 24- 28Hamlet- "O God!"Ghost- "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."Hamlet-" Murder?"Ghost- " Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange, and unnatural."This and the rest of the scene are where the theme first takes root. After Hamlet swears to his father to get revenge he spends the rest of the book finding away to get that revenge.
Gladiator In the beginning of the movie the main character Maximus Decimus Maridius is a roman general. As Marcus Aurelius,