So excellent a king; that was to this / Hyperion to a satyr;
Act I, Scene 2 · Hamlet
Context
In his soliloquy, Hamlet contrasts his dead father with Claudius, using mythological figures to emphasize the vast difference between them.
Analysis
The mythological comparison (sun god versus half-goat creature) splits the two kings into opposed categories—divine versus bestial, noble versus ridiculous. But the exaggeration also hints at how Hamlet's grief has reshaped his memory: his father becomes impossibly perfect ('Hyperion'), which makes the present feel like an even steeper fall.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Hamlet's idealization of his father is part of his problem—by making his father godlike, he sets a standard no living person (including himself) can meet, deepening his paralysis.