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 to those who would seek power through foul play to reconsider, as they will likely be repaid by similar means. The remainder of "Fratricide Punished" seems at once familiar to readers of "Hamlet", yet at times strange. There are some important differences in the naming of characters. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these is Corambus, a name familiar in Q1 "Hamlet" but changed to Polonius in Q2 and the folio editions of Shakespeare's text. Corambus' son, Leonhard, is similarly named Laertes in those texts. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are noticeably absent, their roles replaced in part by unnamed Ruffians. The text