Tragedies have been a form of plays since the beginning of the high powered Greeks. One of the most influential playwrights of all time is Sophocles. Sophocles’ plays focus on humans under the influence of Gods. Sophocles, in plays such as Oedipus Rex, tells of a king who violates rules set upon him by the Gods. Thousands of years later William Shakespeare becomes the most influential playwright. William Shakespeare wrote “Hamlet,” a play with a similar theme to Oedipus Rex yet has a quite different story line. Hamlet and Oedipus are alike in that they were both very hubris which coincidentally led to their death. Each character is also very passionate about the ones they love. Oedipus’ love is shown mostly to his wife and mother, while Hamlet
It is obvious that both Hamlet and Oedipus are experiencing psychological trauma while suffering through the tragic events that took place. As
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According to the Aristotelian view of tragedy, a tragic hero must fall through his or her own error. This is typically called the "tragic flaw", and can be applied to any characteristic that causes the downfall the hero. Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark can be seen as an Aristotelian tragedy and Hamlet as it's tragic hero. Hamlet's flaw, which in accordance with Aristotle's principles of tragedy causes his demise, is his inability to act. This defect of Hamlet's character is displayed throughout the play.
Some may argue that Hamlet can’t have feelings for his mother because he seems entirely in love with Ophelia, but, according to Ernest Jones, his relationship with Ophelia could also be caused by his Oedipus Complex (98). Jones states that Ophelia has traits that are similar to the Queen’s, but she also has many traits that are distinctly opposite, such as her “naïve piety, her obedient resignation, and her unreflecting simplicity” (98). Jones believes that this could be because, to disguise or destroy the attraction to his mother, he leans towards the opposite extreme and convinces himself to fall in love with Ophelia (98). Jones also says that Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia serves another purpose: to make his mother jealous (99). While there isn’t as much evidence of this, there is one key scene.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Sophocles, Oedipus the King, both of the main characters conform to the same classic tragic hero formula. Oedipus suffers a life based on a pre‐birth prophecy, whereas Hamlet finds himself burdened with the task of avenging his father’s death. In both situations, two kings must leave their innocence behind as the truth leads them first, to enlightenment and then to their downfall. They battle between the light, the truth and the darkness, the lie. Both Hamlet and Oedipus are similar in that they both showcase their mental state and stability, they are able to make swift decisions, and they both deal with relationships with women. Despite similarities between Hamlet and Oedipus, it is Oedipus’ consideration to do what is best for his people and city that makes him the more honourable man.
In both plays, Oedipus the king and Hamlet, the characters Oedipus, Hamlet and Claudius both seem to both be of evil and immoral character. Certain circumstances in each play give the reader insight as to what type of character each one has. There is also some sense of sympathy one feels for each character as well. It is sort of a dull feeling.
The tragic flaw of a human being is usually checked with the method he or she reacts with to the circumstances that life throws upon him or her. Contemporary society appears to be fixated on giving gatherings of people cases of such individuals who, in spite of the affliction of their lives, that still transcend. In fact, maybe nobody is more fit for indicating triumph over struggles than Sophocles and William Shakespeare. In both Oedipus and Hamlet, for example, the primary characters struggle with many obstacles and consequences and find themselves with unimaginable problems furthermore and are compelling to choose what the correct decision will be. This develops to Oedipus and Hamlet becoming motivated, courageous people and also becoming dishonest to themselves throughout the two books. Shakespeare and Sophocles’ plays show that sometimes when dealing with consequences and the obstacles there are different ways to react instead of leading to a tragedy. Oedipus and Hamlet’s motivation in dealing with problems is evident when the two primary characters want to find out the murderers of their father’s. Their courageous actions develop them towards having one goal, which was to kill the former King, and show courageous traits towards other people. They become dishonest to their themselves and is showed throughout the two books, which then causes misfortune for both of them in the end. Despite the resemblances of the two, Hamlet is in control of his activities, and he very
In both the main character starts off very respected and in a high political position, Hamlet was the prince of Denmark and Oedipus was the King of Thebes. Both stories had a series of events that lead to the main character’s drop in importance, Hamlet became known as crazy and took his own life and Oedipus became blind and was banished from the kingdom he once ruled. Lastly both had some antagonists, in Hamlet there was Polonius and Claudius and in Oedipus the King there was Creon who was secretly wanting to take the throne from Oedipus. Even though both these plays have the same sort of structure when getting more detailed a numerous amount of differences could easily be
Though Hamlet is observed as an emotional character, there is no evidence that he suffered from an Oedipus complex. He loves his mother, Gertrude, but he is certainly not falling in love with her, neither is he sexually attracted to her in any way. Hamlet admires her because
Hamlet and Oedipus have two vastly different reactions to the familial situations they find themselves in. While the story of Oedipus is often used to describe a situation in which a person feels romantic ties towards one of his or her parents and a loathing towards the other, the reaction of Oedipus when he realizes the situation he has found himself in is relatively suitable. Unlike many of the situations that the story is used to describe, Oedipus lives mostly unknowing to his incest and does not live normally once he realizes the situation. He instead chooses to act in the manner
murder in a rash mood. It is not seen by Gertrude. It tries to urge
The Fantasy And The Reality Is the truth always what's in front of the human eyes? After reading, The Tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare this question arises. The idea of truth is questioned in this play. King Hamlet has recently died in the battle field. As the rule states, the crown should go to his son Hamlet junior.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s personality can be explained by the Oedipus Complex. Throughout the play there are many times where he proves that he has Oedipus Complex. Oedipus Complex was not around at the time that that Hamlet was written. It just shows that Shakespeare saw the same personality complex’ as Freud. Freud first named the Oedipus Complex Theory in his book , An Interpretation of Dreams, in 1899. Freud states "The child takes both of its parents, and more particularly one of them, as the object of its erotic wishes." Freud explains that it is normal to have sexual desires for the parent of the opposite sex. These are normal in children and usually dissipate after the age of five. When
When you think of William Shakespeare, Hamlet is the first thing most people think of, as his work. Hamlet is also a classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. All good pieces of literature written way back when, are usually tragedies.
The tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most popular and greatest tragedy, presents his genius as a playwright and includes many numbers of themes and literary techniques. In all tragedies, the main character, called a tragic hero, suffers and usually dies at the end. Prince Hamlet is a model example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Every tragedy must have a tragic hero. A tragic hero must own many good traits, but has a flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. If not for this tragic flaw, the hero would be able to survive at the end of the play. A tragic hero must have free will and also have the characteristics of being brave and noble. In addition, the audience must feel some sympathy for the tragic hero.