Julius Caesar Allusion Analysis

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In Act 3, scene 2, Polonius states an allusion to Julius Caesar, a Roman dictator of around 44 B.C. Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” was likely written at around the same time as “Hamlet,” and thus it is most likely the subject matter in his mind when writing the other. This allusion refers to Caesar's assassination by his comrade Brutus. It is especially important because it reminds us of King Hamlet’s murder by Claudius as well as young Hamlet's quest to avenge his father's death. In this one allusion, Shakespeare is able to tie in several themes in the play: revenge, betrayal, and death. In this Act, there are undeniably allusions related to mythology, which was an interest at that time. Mythological characters were familiar to the Elizabethans.

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