Differences Between Oedipus And Hamlet - 982 Words

Considering King Oedipus’s self-inflicted blindness and Hamlet’s overwhelming thirst for his own stepfather’s blood, it seems that both men have lost their minds. However, these men are not truly mentally unhinged, but rather incredibly devoted to their religious ideals. Hamlet, a Catholic, believes that his actions will determine his afterlife; the way he acts, though crazy, is an attempt to please God and avoid eternal damnation. King Oedipus, a follower of Apollo and the Greek gods, acts irresponsibly and makes rash decisions because he believes that his fate is set in stone and that his actions, no matter how extreme, can not change his destiny. Hamlet and King Oedipus are similar in that their impractical actions and decisions stem†¦show more content†¦King Oedipus now knows that the gods are cursing Thebes because of his wrongdoings and is overwhelmed with the realization that the gods control everything. He is appalled that he was oblivious to thi s for so long and makes the rash decision to live in isolation, saying, â€Å"Let me live in the mountain which would have been my tomb so long ago.† In conclusion, Hamlets and King Oedipus’s firm religious beliefs are at the root of their crazy schemes and irrational decisions. While their religious beliefs cause both King Oedipus and Hamlet to go mad, their contrasting religious views on fate cause a variation in their actions. King Oedipus believes that the Greek gods are in control of his life and everything that comes after. Because of this belief, King Oedipus acts more carelessly and speaks impetuously, for he knows that nothing he does or says will change his standing with the gods. For example, upon discovering the truth about his childhood and his father’s death, King Oedipus blinds himself and asks, â€Å"Why should I see when vision shows me nothing sweet to see?† King Oedipus believes that he has no control over anything and that his destiny is damned by the gods, which is why he believes being able to see is pointless and acts so carelessly. Hamlet, on the other hand, believes that his standing with God can change and that his fate is not set in stone. Therefore,Show MoreRelatedSimilarities And Differences Between Oedipus The King And Hamlet887 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent between Oedipus the King and Hamlet. Oedipus the King was written by Sophocles in 430-425 BCE. Oedipus the King is about King Oedipus finding out his true origins and him fulfilling a prophecy. In order to save his Kingdom Oedipus has to find out who murdered the king before him. Looking for the murderer Oedipus begins to learn about his origins and true self. Hamlet on the other hand is about a Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, trying to avenge his fathers death. There are many differences betweenRead More Comparison of Oedipus and Hamlet Essay1322 Words   |  6 PagesComparison of Oedipus and Hamlet Compare and contrast Oedipus and Hamlet. Is Oedipus more a man of action? Or is he more a man driven by whim and sudden, rash decisions? Which character is more selfless? Does Hamlet show any signs of selfish motives in his actions or inactions? Which protagonist seems more learned? wiser? more religious? more loving? more incestuous? Which seems to be a better murder investigator? Does Oedipus have any of Claudius motives when he kills the king, Laius? ThenRead MoreHamlet And Oedipus The King1544 Words   |  7 Pagesliterature, Hamlet and Oedipus the King. Oedipus the King was written by Sophocles and Hamlet was one of the famous dramas of Shakespeare. There were some similarities and several differences between the two tragedies. Although the plays were both set in different time periods, they had similar themes about fate and free will. Their plots were also analogous. However, the two main character had a major vital difference that Hamlet is a tragedy of inaction and Oedipus i s a tragedy of action. Hamlet and OedipusRead MoreHamlet 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 MoreHamlet As A Jealous Of Claudius1417 Words   |  6 PagesOn William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, after the assassination of his father, Hamlet thinks he is living in a world full of corruption and deceit, where everything is falling apart and everyone is against him. An imminent, exaggerated, and passionate love for his mother is his main feature. Although others argue that Hamlet’s obsession to murder Claudius is strictly to claim revenge for his father’s death, it is Hamletà ¢â‚¬â„¢s obsessive desire to possess his mother in an unhealthy and, perhaps incestuous,Read MoreThe Poetics of Oedipus and Dana Marschz1312 Words   |  6 Pages Creon, in Sophocles Oedipus the King, declares to Oedipus that his power ends; none of [his] power follows [him] through life. (Fagles, 652:1677-8) This edict communicates the transience of mortal abilities, and the hubris of those mortals. In the 2008 film Hamlet 2, Dana Marschz perceives himself as an excellent writer producing the work that will save Drama (Hamlet 2, 00:27:58-28:00), which the community loathes for its mediocrity rather than celebrates for its merits. Comparison of the twoRead 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 More Comparing the Tragedies of Hamlet, Oedipus the King, and Death of a Salesman1023 Words   |  5 PagesComparing the Tragedies of Hamlet, Oedipus the King, and Death of a Salesman The tragedies Hamlet, Oedipus the King, and Death of a Salesman have strikingly different plots and characters; however, each play shares common elements in its resolution. The events in the plays’ closings derive from a tragic flaw possessed by the protagonist in each play. The downfall of each protagonist is caused by his inability to effectively cope with his tragic flaw. The various similarities in the closingRead 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. However, some of those characteristics show that both characters have and use similar thought processes and methods, which classify them as tragic heroes of their dramas. The five characteristi cs of a tragic hero are: nobilityRead MoreEssay on Hamlet and the Oedipus Complex1319 Words   |  6 Pages When examining Hamlet through the lens of the Oedipus complex, it is critical to first define and thoroughly explain the Oedipus complex, then to apply it to Hamlets relationships, before a final conclusion is reached. The Complexities of the Complex Before one can understand the Oedipus complex, one must understand Sigmund Freuds theory on infantile sexuality. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy points out that the roots of Freuds theory can be found