Re: Laertes and Hamlet as their Fathers -- Great Books II

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Date Posted: 19:51:09 02/17/08 Sun
Author: Molly
Subject: Re: Laertes and Hamlet as their Fathers
In reply to: tsawyer 's message, "Re: Laertes and Hamlet as their Fathers" on 19:20:18 02/17/08 Sun

I think that it is only natural that they avenge their father's deaths. My basic premiss is that the love for family is the greatest love that a person can have, based on the Roman idea of paterfamilias. Therefore, to avenge a father is a reflex: the father, or paterfamilas, is not only one of the most naturally loved figures in the family: he is the identity of the family, and therefore, the individual. So, you are right.

What else is the identity of the individual? The Polis. Interestingly enough, the paterfamiliae take on the names of their respective polii (sp??). I think Shakespeare might be playing with this, just a litle bit.

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Re: Laertes and Hamlet as their Fathers -- Joel Gehrke, 20:58:29 02/17/08 Sun