Hamlet vs. Oedipus Essay - 898 Words

Character Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and Jacobs, 1998:1189). Tragic stories are identified through three (3) characteristics or elements: first, the protagonist, usually a male, must be of noble stature; second, the protagonist or tragic hero must possess a tragic flaw or hamartia that†¦show more content†¦As his anxieties later develop to become his most tragic flaw, that of being indecisive, Hamlet lets himself plunge towards his downfall. This is demonstrated in the plays most famous scene, wherein Hamlet delivers his soliloquy: To be, or not to be, that is the question, Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to sufferÂ…Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them: to die, to sleep, No more; and by a sleep, to say we end The heart-acheÂ…tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished (1288). In this passage, Shakespeare brings into lucidity Hamlets tragic flaw: as he delayed his plan to avenge his father against Claudius, Hamlet opens an opportunity for the murderer of his father (Claudius) to plan ahead and instead, turn the tables against Hamlet, which eventually results to his death. It was only at the end of the play that Hamlet redeems himself from his mistakes in life. This is when he achieves catharsis, the end or goal of tragedy (1186). Hamlet finally kills Claudius before he dies himself, and Fortinbras best illustrates his redemption by exulting him by saying, Let four captains Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, For he was likely, had he been put on, To have proved most royal, and for his passage, The soldiers music and the rite of war Speak loudly for him (1345).Show MoreRelatedHamlet vs. Oedipus1493 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet vs Oedipus Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus the King by Sophocles are both tragic stories which contain many elements of which are similar and different. Although both Hamlet and Oedipus suffer from fate, Hamlet’s father is murdered by his brother Claudius, while Oedipus kills his own father. Both Hamlet and Oedipus have the opportunity to shun their fate, but the two men believe themselves to be the only individual who can resolve the predicament which they are faced with. TheRead MoreOedipus vs. Hamlet: a Character Comparison Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pagesother such errors in it. Oedipus vs. Hamlet: A Character Comparison After reading Sophocles Oedipus the King and Shakespeares Hamlet, it is quiet clear that Oedipus is by far the more admirable character of the two. Aside from Oedipus history and life experience, his superior character traits are also displayed in the way he handles several incidents throughout the play. One of the primary reasons Oedipus is more admirable than Hamlet is just their history. Oedipus is a king. He got thereRead MoreOedipus vs. Hamlet as Tragic Heroes1562 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus from the drama, â€Å"Oedipus the King† and Hamlet from, â€Å"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark† are two characters that are different, yet they both share the same title of being a tragic hero. Oedipus and Hamlet have many characteristics of a tragic hero that separates them in varieties. 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This is one of Iago’s admirable qualities- his power of perception and tactical skills. Iago has studied Othello’s nature, and he gives him one blow after another, expecting him to react at once, as he indeed does. Compared to the character of Hamlet, who behaves in the exactly opposite way, Othello is a man of action – he does not contemplates over the situation, his passions, once awaken, are intense and uncontrollable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The character of Iago himself was interpreted in many ways, many