Fratricide Fratricide Fratricide (from the Latin words "frater" "brother" and "cida" "killer," or "cidum" "a killing," both from "caedere" "to kill, to cut down") is the act of killing one's brother. It can either be done directly or via use of either a hired or an indoctrinated intermediary (an assassin). The victim need not be the perpetrator's biological brother. In a military context, fratricide refers to a service member killing a comrade. Judeo-Christian religion recognizes the biblical account of Cain and Abel, this fratricide was the first type of murder to be committed. In the mythology of ancient Rome, the city
Fratricide Punished presenting this, argues that the use of the name Corambus instead of Polonius firmly ties "Fratricide Punished" to Q1, as does the "increased villainy" of the King, who alone is responsible for devising the poisoning plot. Yet, some elements exclusive to Q2 and F1 are found in the text as well. Irace points out that the first portion of the King's speech in Act I, Scene II is missing from Q1 "Hamlet" but oddly present in "Fratricide Punished." Meanwhile, elements exclusive to the text or shared only with Q1 would seem to some scholars to link "Fratricide Punished" to the