Are you not entertained?
A king murdered. A tyrant replaces him. A man, with his life ripped apart, set on revenge. Is this my story? Certainly there is no arguing the parallels between myself and of Maximus in the movie "Gladiator". Tales as such have always been a fancy of mine, for example, "The rugged Pyrrhus" (2.2.387) of Troy. I suppose it is because of my situation, left to dry in the wake of my father's death (and perhaps murder).
Following the murder of the emperor of Rome, Maximus is banished from his position from army general to slave. It is somewhat unfortunate, but I can relate to his experience, "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" (2.2.474-475). And just like our old hero Maximus, I too must fight back against those who have betrayed me, from my uncle and mother to my former true love, Ophelia.
Yet, Maximus is military man. He is a man of considerable strength and brutality. Traits of which I do not possess. But I do, as I believe, one up our honorable Maximus. For as opposed to a sword, I wield my words to bend the soul. Alas this characteristic of mine may hath become my greatest weakness. "I have of late--but/ wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth" (1.2.271-272).
On top of that, I shall have my revenge more subtly than Maximus does. For it is not harm to the body that defines my payback to mine uncle, but rather spiritually. There is no thing more invaluable to me than the theatre. Theatre is the place where our emotions can not simply be hidden by monarchial pomp. The truth of my father's death will be revealed to all in the true emotions our new king has in reaction to this performance. "For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak/ With most miraculous organ" (2.2.521-522). And that's, in fact, where our scene will be set. Where the king's secret will become known throughout the kingdom. "the play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (2.2.532-533).
Great power does not arise from physical prowess alone. For power is exerted when one is able to tame the world that contains them. My dear uncle may believe he holds power as the enshrined king of Denmark, but the truth is, he has no clue that my father gifted power to the throne, not the other way around.
Following the murder of the emperor of Rome, Maximus is banished from his position from army general to slave. It is somewhat unfortunate, but I can relate to his experience, "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" (2.2.474-475). And just like our old hero Maximus, I too must fight back against those who have betrayed me, from my uncle and mother to my former true love, Ophelia.
Yet, Maximus is military man. He is a man of considerable strength and brutality. Traits of which I do not possess. But I do, as I believe, one up our honorable Maximus. For as opposed to a sword, I wield my words to bend the soul. Alas this characteristic of mine may hath become my greatest weakness. "I have of late--but/ wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth" (1.2.271-272).
On top of that, I shall have my revenge more subtly than Maximus does. For it is not harm to the body that defines my payback to mine uncle, but rather spiritually. There is no thing more invaluable to me than the theatre. Theatre is the place where our emotions can not simply be hidden by monarchial pomp. The truth of my father's death will be revealed to all in the true emotions our new king has in reaction to this performance. "For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak/ With most miraculous organ" (2.2.521-522). And that's, in fact, where our scene will be set. Where the king's secret will become known throughout the kingdom. "the play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" (2.2.532-533).
Great power does not arise from physical prowess alone. For power is exerted when one is able to tame the world that contains them. My dear uncle may believe he holds power as the enshrined king of Denmark, but the truth is, he has no clue that my father gifted power to the throne, not the other way around.
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