"Hello. My name is Inigo
Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." (1987)
Inigo Montoya, a spanish fencer,
seeks revenge against the six
fingered who killed his father. He
travels along with Westley, a man masked in all black, who pursues his life
long kidnapped lover, Buttercup, in hopes that he will run into the six
fingered man and avenge his father's death.
Inigo Montoya, a determined man to find his father's killer, is much like Polonious, a father with the same level of determination to spy on his son, Laertes. Polonious says, "What encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son, come you more nearer." (2.1.9-11) Montoya's same determination can be seen when he first encounters Westley and asks, "I don't mean to pry, but you don't happen to have six fingers on your right hand?" This forward question to a stranger emphasizes his determination to complete his revenge of finding his father's killer.
In a way Montoya could be considered "crazy" just as Hamlet was said to be "lunacy" when he approached Ophelia. (2.2.49). Montoya continues to repeat this phrase, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." No matter if it's Westley, or his father's killer. Who ever steps to a duel/fight the same phrase, over and over, comes out of Montoya's mouth. Hamlet however, approaches Ophelia with silence, "took me [Ophelia] by the wrist and held me hard" (2.1.85) Both are to be considered crazy, however, the way the act is carried out, is different between the two characters, one with a repeated phrase, the other silent.
A common motif in the play as well as the movie, is the death of a father, which could contribute to the crazy characteristic of both characters. Hamlet lost his father, just as Montoya lost his father, both victims of murder. In the clip you see Montoya describing his father's death to Westley when he says, "My father was slaughtered by a six fingered man...so I dedicated my life to fencing" This crazy determination in dedicating his whole life to fencing, could be considered a crazy action on Montoya's part. The Queen however, continues to blame "His [Hamlet] father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage," for Hamlet's lunancy. (2.2.57)
Both Hamlet and Montoya center around the theme of revenge on their father's death. Hamlet says, "A dream itself is but a shadow." (2.2.246). Hamlet and Montoya both dream of the moment when there mission and goal in life is met: their father's killer meets death. A shadow, a dark space, can symbolize the dark thoughts or negativity that comes along with this dream. Yes their goals are met, however the morality of the situation brings about this sense of darkness.
Inigo Montoya, a determined man to find his father's killer, is much like Polonious, a father with the same level of determination to spy on his son, Laertes. Polonious says, "What encompassment and drift of question that they do know my son, come you more nearer." (2.1.9-11) Montoya's same determination can be seen when he first encounters Westley and asks, "I don't mean to pry, but you don't happen to have six fingers on your right hand?" This forward question to a stranger emphasizes his determination to complete his revenge of finding his father's killer.
In a way Montoya could be considered "crazy" just as Hamlet was said to be "lunacy" when he approached Ophelia. (2.2.49). Montoya continues to repeat this phrase, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." No matter if it's Westley, or his father's killer. Who ever steps to a duel/fight the same phrase, over and over, comes out of Montoya's mouth. Hamlet however, approaches Ophelia with silence, "took me [Ophelia] by the wrist and held me hard" (2.1.85) Both are to be considered crazy, however, the way the act is carried out, is different between the two characters, one with a repeated phrase, the other silent.
A common motif in the play as well as the movie, is the death of a father, which could contribute to the crazy characteristic of both characters. Hamlet lost his father, just as Montoya lost his father, both victims of murder. In the clip you see Montoya describing his father's death to Westley when he says, "My father was slaughtered by a six fingered man...so I dedicated my life to fencing" This crazy determination in dedicating his whole life to fencing, could be considered a crazy action on Montoya's part. The Queen however, continues to blame "His [Hamlet] father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage," for Hamlet's lunancy. (2.2.57)
Both Hamlet and Montoya center around the theme of revenge on their father's death. Hamlet says, "A dream itself is but a shadow." (2.2.246). Hamlet and Montoya both dream of the moment when there mission and goal in life is met: their father's killer meets death. A shadow, a dark space, can symbolize the dark thoughts or negativity that comes along with this dream. Yes their goals are met, however the morality of the situation brings about this sense of darkness.
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