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Achilles’ homicide causes Pyrrhus to avenge his father’s death. After a long search Pyrrhus discovered his father’s murderer had died recently, causing Pyrrhus to go after Priam. This erratic decision significantly altered Pyrrhus character. By using a gothic, foul tone in this excerpt from Hamlet, and through the use of grotesque diction, imagery and allusion, Shakespeare is able to expose the character of Pyrrhus, one of Hamlet’s many foils, as villainous.

Through the use of grotesque diction, Pyrrhus’ fiendish character is revealed. The description given to Pyrrhus’ image of having a “dread and black complexion” (455) while being in “total gules” (457) “with eyes like carbuncles” (463) depicts him as a satanic figure. The black apparel drenched in blood Pyrrhus is portrayed in supports the notion of him being represented as a beastly, villainous character. He is even more heinous as he manages to execute reverend Priam, differentiating Pyrrhus’ nefarious self with a godlike figure. Pyrrhus’ hellish form embodies his personality of unrestrained vengeance and lack of compassion, while his unholy action characterizes him as an immoral sinner. Pyrrhus’ decision to become a man of action and avenge his father’s death foils Hamlet’s delay of pursuing his father’s vengeance.




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