| | Since the part is negligible, in terms of speech, it is an obvious target for cutting from stage productions. However, Shakespeare probably included a companion for Voltemand to symbolize the importance of the mission, that is, Claudius considers the mission so important, he is sending two men to help insure a successful negotiation. Indeed it is important, there is war in prospect. With two diplomats, if one man became ill, the other could carry on. Omitting Cornelius will diminish the "show" of the mission's importance. | | Since the part is negligible, in terms of speech, it is an obvious target for cutting from stage productions. However, Shakespeare probably included a companion for Voltemand to symbolize the importance of the mission, that is, Claudius considers the mission so important, he is sending two men to help insure a successful negotiation. Indeed it is important, there is war in prospect. With two diplomats, if one man became ill, the other could carry on. Omitting Cornelius will diminish the "show" of the mission's importance. |
| | + | * <b>Costume</b> - As with his fellow diplomat Voltemand, Cornelius must look ambassadorial, that is, his costume must be elegant looking and expensive looking. He must look like a person of high status. |
| | The name, Cornelius, comes from a Roman gens (a gens being a paternal clan.) It goes along with the other Italianate and Roman names in ''Hamlet,'' and along with those other names, implies an older source play set in Italy, which supplied some names that Shakespeare did not bother to change. | | The name, Cornelius, comes from a Roman gens (a gens being a paternal clan.) It goes along with the other Italianate and Roman names in ''Hamlet,'' and along with those other names, implies an older source play set in Italy, which supplied some names that Shakespeare did not bother to change. |