6.2.1
Seneca Tragedy
The Influence of Senecan Tragedy on Hamlet
The Influence of Senecan Tragedy on Hamlet
Seneca was a Roman playwright who lived between 4 BC and 65 AD. His work had a powerful influence on English drama in the late 16th century.
Ten Tragedies of Seneca
Ten Tragedies of Seneca
- An English translation of the Ten Tragedies of Seneca was published in 1581.
- These plays were full of dramatic ingredients such as madness, violence and bloodshed which would build to a terrible catastrophe.
- Key plot features in Hamlet - such as the appearance of a ghost calling for revenge - originated in Senecan tragedy.
Bate's view of Senecan hero
Bate's view of Senecan hero
- The Shakespearean scholar Jonathan Bate describes the typical Senecan tragic hero as a complex figure (similar to Prince Hamlet) who "cannot easily be labelled either a hero or a villain".
- This hero would be tormented by conflicting ideas and emotions, sharing his inner turmoil with the audience through a series of monologues.
Philosophy of Stoicism
Philosophy of Stoicism
- Seneca’s plays also explored the philosophy of Stoicism – the belief that, as human beings are not in control of our destiny, we must learn to control our emotional responses and use our powers of reason to accept this fact.
- Only through control, reason and acceptance will we find happiness.
- Senecan tragic heroes fail to achieve this level of acceptance or self-control because their emotional responses to events are too strong.
Hamlet's Stoic frame of mind?
Hamlet's Stoic frame of mind?
- But you could argue that Hamlet returns from the sea with a Stoic frame of mind in his new-found acceptance of what may befall him.
- Hamlet tells Horatio that “There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow”, using a biblical reference to a loving God who takes care of all living things to show his acceptance of what is to come, including his own death: “If it be not now, yet it will come”.
1Introduction
2Plot Summary
2.1Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
2.2Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
2.3Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
2.4Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
2.5Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
3Character Profiles
3.1Hamlet
3.3Gertrude
3.4Ophelia
4Key Themes
4.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2Madness in Hamlet
4.3Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
4.4Settings in Hamlet
5Writing Techniques
6Context
6.1Social & Historical Context
6.2Literary Context
6.3Performance & Textual History
7Critical Debates
7.118-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.220th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3Feminist Readings of Hamlet
7.4Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
Jump to other topics
1Introduction
2Plot Summary
2.1Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
2.2Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
2.3Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
2.4Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
2.5Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
3Character Profiles
3.1Hamlet
3.3Gertrude
3.4Ophelia
4Key Themes
4.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2Madness in Hamlet
4.3Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
4.4Settings in Hamlet
5Writing Techniques
6Context
6.1Social & Historical Context
6.2Literary Context
6.3Performance & Textual History
7Critical Debates
7.118-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.220th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3Feminist Readings of Hamlet
7.4Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
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