The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, / Black as his purpose, did the night resemble / When he lay couched in the ominous horse, / Hath now this dread and black complexion smear’d / With heraldry more dismal.
Act II, Scene 2
Context
At Hamlet's request, the First Player recites a speech about Pyrrhus, a Greek warrior, preparing to kill the Trojan king Priam during the fall of Troy.
Analysis
The simile 'Black as his purpose' makes Pyrrhus's physical appearance a visual expression of his intent—he is entirely unified in his role as avenger. This is precisely what Hamlet lacks: the speech presents a model of single-minded, ruthless revenge that Hamlet cannot embody.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Hamlet uses the Player's speech as a mirror for his own failure—Pyrrhus is everything Hamlet is not (decisive, untroubled, violent), and the contrast highlights Hamlet's paralysis.