Some very good dramaturgical research Nathan, regarding the meanings of the Latin that occurs in Scene 1. But I think that rather than 'Those who are hungry salute you' - which of course makes good and proper sense - the latin dedication they use for their toast could more closely resemble the famous Roman dedication that it mimics i.e. "..those who are about to die salute you..".
It's quite funny if they say "...those who are about to be eaten, salute you..." Or "...those who are about to eat salute you!
I can't see the Riot Club members describing themselves as 'hungry'.
About to eat...rather than .... about to die. Its such a tame version of the original, isn't it? All they can do is offer up their palates rather than their lives. It underscores the dilution of the Roman allusion to a group of men who were patriotic fighting machins - Centurions/Gladiators/ Heroes. They are now just petty consumers.
I do agree, what I found was just the direct translation, and their adaptation of the latin could have gone a lot further.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd quite like is that instead of "those who are about to eat salute you" it would be "those who are about to dine salute you" Last night I was honestly willing with all my might that it would be a pun like that