Notes Thrusday 2/19

Today in class we talked more about Hamlet. We discussed the part of Act 2 Scene 2 when Hamlet and the players are talking.

Hamlet asks the players to tell him a story. He requests the story about Aeneas and Dido. He requests the players start at a certain moment in the story where Pyrrus is about to kill Priam. Priam is the Old King of Troy and Pyrrus is a Greek Warrior. Hecuba, who comes in later, is the Queen of Troy.

Pyrrus is described as having soot and blood all over him as he was just fighting in a burning city. He looks demonic. Pyrrus decides that he is going to kill Priam so he raises his sword above his head. A falling building causes him to pause at the top of his swing. Laz says that the whole universe freezes at this moment because a king is about to be killed at that is a very big deal. Kings Matter!

Hecuba comes in as Priam is being killed and starts to cry. Her cries are so loud that the gods hear her and start to cry along with her.

This story relates back to Hamlet and his situation. In his situation, Priam is Old Hamlet and Pyrrus is Claudius.

Hamlet feels very angry at his mother. He wants to save her but he knows he can't until she realizes what she has done.

Sorry about being so late.

-Kristian Mayer