Tragedies written during the Elizabethan time period often contained similar elements allowing them to be classified as a tragedy. When looking at the plays The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd and Hamlet by William Shakespeare, a common element they both share is the theme of madness. The main characters in both plays reveal that they are pretending to act mad, yet the audience is forced to question whether or not they have actually gone crazy. Although this is a large part of the plot, it does not actually matter whether or not Hieronimo and Hamlet have gone crazy because the audience perceives the play the same way in both situations. Madness throughout both plays does not prove to be as large of a role as the audience would believe; the effect
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When asked by the Portuguese where Lorenzo is, Hieronimo replies, “Not far from thence, where murderers have built a habitation for their cursed souls, there in a brazen caldron fixed by Jove in his fell wrath upon a sulfur flame, yourselves shall find Lorenzo bathing him in boiling lead and blood of innocents (III.11.75).” Hieronimo’s reply to the Portuguese shows the true intent of what he wishes to do, because he is essentially telling them that Lorenzo can be found in Hell. Shortly after finding out who the murderers of his son were, Hieronimo acts erratically, causing Lorenzo to become worried about the extent of Hieronimo’s knowledge. When Hieronimo is finally given the chance to tell the king about the murder of Horatio, Lorenzo steps in and blocks any dialogue that may occur, causing Hieronimo to become angered, “Away, Lorenzo, hinder me no more, for thou hast made me bankrupt of my bliss. Give me my son! You shall not ransom him. Away! I 'll rip the bowels of the earth… (III.12.69).” This moment allows the audience to feel sympathy, as well as anger, towards Lorenzo and …show more content…
Both characters wait until they believe it is the right time to get their revenge. Hamlet contemplates killing Claudius at one point, but decides against it because he believes that if he kills him while he is praying Claudius will be sent to heaven, “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, and now I 'll do 't. [He draws his sword.] And so he goes to heaven (III.3.77).” This is another instance where the audience will feel sympathy for Hamlet because he is unable to get justice at what seems like the perfect moment. Hamlet, unlike Hieronimo, was not an old man who was thought to be foolish. Because of their difference in age and circumstance between the plays, King Claudius realizes that Hamlet understands the situation and the King decides that he must take action before action is taken against
When asked by the Portuguese where Lorenzo is, Hieronimo replies, “Not far from thence, where murderers have built a habitation for their cursed souls, there in a brazen caldron fixed by Jove in his fell wrath upon a sulfur flame, yourselves shall find Lorenzo bathing him in boiling lead and blood of innocents (III.11.75).” Hieronimo’s reply to the Portuguese shows the true intent of what he wishes to do, because he is essentially telling them that Lorenzo can be found in Hell. Shortly after finding out who the murderers of his son were, Hieronimo acts erratically, causing Lorenzo to become worried about the extent of Hieronimo’s knowledge. When Hieronimo is finally given the chance to tell the king about the murder of Horatio, Lorenzo steps in and blocks any dialogue that may occur, causing Hieronimo to become angered, “Away, Lorenzo, hinder me no more, for thou hast made me bankrupt of my bliss. Give me my son! You shall not ransom him. Away! I 'll rip the bowels of the earth… (III.12.69).” This moment allows the audience to feel sympathy, as well as anger, towards Lorenzo and …show more content…
Both characters wait until they believe it is the right time to get their revenge. Hamlet contemplates killing Claudius at one point, but decides against it because he believes that if he kills him while he is praying Claudius will be sent to heaven, “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, and now I 'll do 't. [He draws his sword.] And so he goes to heaven (III.3.77).” This is another instance where the audience will feel sympathy for Hamlet because he is unable to get justice at what seems like the perfect moment. Hamlet, unlike Hieronimo, was not an old man who was thought to be foolish. Because of their difference in age and circumstance between the plays, King Claudius realizes that Hamlet understands the situation and the King decides that he must take action before action is taken against