A cultural reference is when an older, classical work is
referred to in a later work of art or popular culture. In the case of Hamlet's speech,
"What a piece of work is man," there are many references to it in later
works.
In the 1960's rock musical "Hair," Hamlet's speech
is quoted word-for-word in a song called (what else?) "What a piece of work is man."
(See the second link below.)
In a "Star Trek" episode, a
character says:
What Hamlet said with irony I say with
conviction:
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‘What a piece of work is man! How noble in
reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in
action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a
god!’
In other words, Hamlet
is not really sure how great "a piece of work is man," because he is so confused and
depressed; the speaker in Star Trek, however, is convinced that man really is a great
"piece of work."
See the first link below for
more on this and other cultural references to Hamlet's speech.
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