Introduction
William Shakespeare’s two most significant works, “Hamlet” and “Julius Caesar,” are easily distinguished from each other. They were written during different periods of his career and contained different ideas and themes. Yet both works shine with originality and profound insight into human psychology.
Discussion
In this report, I will attempt to ascertain the characteristics of these two plays and compare them accordingly. With “Hamlet” and “Julius Caesar,” William Shakespeare created two of world literature’s most influential and poetic works. “Hamlet” is a tragic play about fate, love, and the consequences of mistakes. It is the story of Prince Denmark, who attempts to unravel the mysteries of the future and sinks into sin.
On the other hand, “Julius Caesar” is a poetic, dramatic work dedicated to the ancient Roman general. It combines a beautiful poetic form and a profound understanding of the human spirit. In this report, I will compare William Shakespeare’s two works, “Hamlet” and “Julius Caesar.” I will examine their plots, themes, characterization, and writing style (Bergmann, 2018). Thus, this report will objectively compare these two works and help better understand their ideas and themes.
Hamlet and Julius Caesar of Shakespeare have many standard features. Both plays are based on tragic historical material and come from British writers who are fundamental representatives of English literature. Both plays reflect the theme of power and how it affects the fate of people. For example, Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar” tells the story of betrayal and power, showing how Caesar was killed by his close friends and consuls who were won over by his fame and power. In Hamlet, the main character is also affected by power (Bergmann, 2018). He tries to avoid his fate by obeying the king’s orders and betraying his own brother, but in the end, he cannot escape death.
Both plays have many literary motifs expressing supremacy and power’s tragic consequences. For example, Hamlet’s play shows how justice and power lead to the consequences of supremacy and betrayal. Thus, we see how justice cannot bring due punishment for the crimes committed. In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, power cannot prevent betrayal, although it demands bravery and loyalty from its followers (Bergmann, 2018). Both plays also show the fantastic consequences of supremacy and power in people’s lives.
Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet and Julius Caesar reflect many common themes that are still relevant today. They demonstrate how power can lead to tragic consequences and that justice does not always bring fairness. Both plays provide a view on the issue of supremacy and authority, showing that its manifestation has far-reaching consequences (Bergmann, 2018). Both plays also emphasize the importance of justice and fairness in society.
However, both plays also carry several significant differences. Hamlet is a tragedy play that tells the story of an imagined king of Denmark, Hamlet, and the tragic consequences of his attempt to annul the prophecy of his father’s death, the King of Shakespeare. At the end of the play, Hamlet decides to kill his father, and this leads him to suicide. The play’s theme is a persistent warning to adhere to the laws of nature and to accept the consequences of one’s private decisions.
On the other hand, Julius Caesar is a historical drama about the events of Julius Caesar’s life, the great Roman general and statesman. He displays his bravery in battle and shows great strength, courage, and self-confidence on his way to making the right decisions. The play’s central theme is that the consequences of the right decisions benefit society (Bergmann, 2018). In conclusion, both of Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet and Julius Caesar, differ in theme, main idea, genre, and approach to manifesting excellent and evil.
Ultimately, both plays are meant to show the audience the principles of good and evil embodied in the people. However, Hamlet and Julius Caesar present different approaches to these concepts. In Hamlet, Shakespeare shows the evil arising from man’s actions and emphasizes that the contradiction between the laws of nature and personal goals can lead to tragic consequences (Bergmann, 2018). In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare shows the good manifested in man’s actions and acknowledges that the right decisions may benefit society.
Conclusion
Overall, Hamlet and Julius Caesar are bright examples of the kaleidoscope of styles presented by English dramaturgy. Although Hamlet was written as a tragedy, Julius Caesar is a tragicomedy interweaving comedy and tragedy. Both plays emphasize the theme of ambition and seek to find a balance between the presence and absence of justice. Hence, in both cases, we see a contradiction between the principles of the individual and the principles of society. This allows the audience to look at various sides of the issue and find solutions. Therefore, Hamlet and Julius Caesar are essential pieces of work that help the audience explore different issues of humanity and investigate potential solutions.
Reference
Bergmann, M. S. (2018). The unconscious in Shakespeare’s plays. Routledge.