Allusions With Reference To Vulcan In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Authors often times use allusions to deepen the understanding of their work. In the tragedy Hamlet, Shakespeare uses allusions to inadvertently reveal hidden emotions and meaning.The allusions allow Hamlet to self-reflect and assess his situation. They also indirectly reveal his thoughts and emotions. One significant allusion is the reference to Vulcan. Within Hamlet, many allusions are utilized including an allusion to the Roman god Vulcan. Although there are many purposes for allusions in Hamlet, the most significant is that they serve to motivate Hamlet in his quest for revenge.
In Shakespeare's tragedy, He utilizes the similarities between Hamlet and Vulcan. In order to be able to fully take advantage of an allusion, the reader must understand the history behind it. Vulcan, the Roman counterpart of the Greek deity Hephaestus, was the god of fire and volcanoes, often portrayed as crippled and with a blacksmith's hammer in hand.Vulcan began to be worshiped in very early Roman history. It is told that Vulcan is the son of Zeus and Hera. Vulcan was

born crippled and is now considered the ugly god so Hera became ashamed and threw him from Olympus into the ocean because of the impact of the fall he broke both of his legs which caused him to become lame. Later he was rescued and raised by the sea nymphs. He eventually became very skillful and later become the blacksmith of the gods. He is credited with creating their magical objects and powerful weapons. Shakespeare's allusion to Vulcan adds another layer of meaning to Hamlet.
The allusion to Vulcan offers insight and deeper meaning to better understanding Hamlets mindset.

“ And my imaginations are as foul as Vulcan's stithy” ( 3.2.89) With this allusion the Vulcan's stithy, Hamlet is talking about his thoughts after seeing Hamlet Sr. ghost. Hamlet is referring to his angry, fiery mindset since Vulcan is the god of fire. He is recognizing the resemblances between himself and Vulcans mindset. In this quote, Hamlet references Vulcans foul stithy which is essentially a smithy or place of stiths (anvils) where Vulcan created all his weapons for the gods.Hamlet is making a comparison -- to be as foul as Vulcan's stithy is to be as dirty and sooty as the mother of all blacksmith's workshop. This set the tone for Hamlet's mind for the rest of the play. Hamlets parallel this to foreshadow tragic events. Shakespeare's allusions amplify one's appreciation for the complexity of the

tragedy.
The allusion to Vulcan influences the perception of the tragedy. This allusion is very telling and foreshadows some events during the play. It changes the understanding because of the similarities between Hamlet and Vulcan. One similarity that aids the meaning of the play is the love goddess Venus is the wife of Vulcan, and she was unfaithful to him, so there might be a tenuous connection in Hamlet's mind with his mother's infidelity to his late father. Although Hamlet sees Gertrude's marriage Claudius as an act of disloyalty to her late husband's memory, the play never suggests that she was unfaithful to Hamlet's father while he was alive. Since this allusion appears during the third act if the reader understands the reference it would be used as a tool and help cause more appreciation for the complexity of the play.
The use of the allusions in Hamlet revealed Hamlet's true emotions and also added deeper meaning to the play. Shakespeare employs the allusion to Vulcan which offers great insight into Hamlet's mindset as well as foreshadowing future events in the play. Although all the allusions devised in Hamlet all share one purpose which is to motivate Hamlet quest for revenge.