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Oedipus and Hamlet

There are a number of similarities and differences between King Oedipus and Prince Hamlet. Both Hamlet and Oedipus are victims of fate, but HamletÆs father is murdered by his uncle Claudius while Oedipus kills his own father, if unwittingly. Hamlet and Oedipus can both avoid their fate, but each believes himself to be the only source of rectifying matters. Both Thebes and Denmark are in turmoil. Thebes is wracked by plague and other ills, while something is ôrotten in the state of Denmarkö (Shakespeare I.iv.90). If there is anything that Hamlet and Oedipus share in common, it is their individual belief that it is up to them to save their respective states.

Both Hamlet and Oedipus are concerned about the deteriorating conditions in Denmark and Thebes respectively. Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his murdered father, who informs him his uncle Claudius murdered him and then married HamletÆs mother, Queen Gertrude. As son and as former prince of Denmark, Hamlet views it as his fate to set things right even if he does not relish the task, ôO cursed spite / That ever I was born to set it rightö (Shakespeare I.v.191-92). As King of Thebes, a city suffering from plague, chaos and ruin, Oedipus believes it is his duty to discover the murderer of his father to restore Thebes. Like Horatio tries to prevent Hamlet from avenging his fatherÆs death, fearing for his life, the Tiresias warns Oedipus to forego his hunt for the murderer of his father. Oedipus, like Hamlet, insist on discovering the truth without concern for his safety. As Oedipus tells Creon, ôSpeak out, before all of us. The sorrows of my people here mean more to me than any fear I may have for my own lifeö (Sophocles 9).

There is a significant difference between Hamlet and Oedipus. Hamlet avenges the murder of his father who was killed by his uncle Claudius. Oedipus, unwittingly the murderer he seeks, does not realize the vengeance he seeks is on himself...

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Oedipus and Hamlet. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 21:55, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1711008.html