The literary work is a reflection of what is happening in the society. Authors normally voice their opinions about issues affecting the society through various themes. These themes are closely linked together through analysis of a character’s actions.
In the contemporary society, introduction of literature research has extensively increased the volume of literature in every topic of interest, especially in use of expression tools such as metaphors to present a symbolic view that a character display in a play.
As a matter of fact, irrespective of the level of knowledge and understanding of research facets, literature versions are inclusive of literature tools such as metaphors.
Literature comparison is about enjoying the phrases, feeling the narrator’s words in action, imagining, and placing oneself in the writer’s shoes. This paper analyses comparison between the plays “Comedy of errors” by William Shakespeare and “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles.
Indeed, the two plays are significant, although they express concealed implication to readers. Though each poem presented dissimilar information, their underlying ideas are related, imperative and vital to readers in general.
The key aspects of Sophocles’ play captures learners’ interest for the purpose of comedy and twist of fate. Sophocles depicted various stages of the play’s episode through the associating dependence of mankind to God.
For instance, the main character Oedipus is arrogant is retorting to the Chorus that, “You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers” (Sophocles 13).
Moreover, the key considerable notion of play is fate and prophecy that demonstrates how human has decayed due to fate, and needs to acknowledge god’s reverence. Furthermore, Sophocles presents his mental picture of the path towards Supreme Divinity in his play.
This is viewed as the likelihood for the human heart to fate rather than to descend choice at a personal level in the conservative society.
Besides, Sophocles employed irony that is conspicuous in the representation of the main character Oedipus. Oedipus states that “no skill in the world, nothing human can penetrate the future” (Sophocles 13) when explaining to his wife on the fate which he attempts to twist in vain.
On the other hand, Shakespeare’s representation of the twins in the play “Comedy of errors” presents an organized tossing of ideas intended to derive significant meanings.
For instance, the illustration of the characters of Antipholus and Dromio explains how the author succeeded in tossing the implication of words and thus, it was the duty of learners to catch such implications (Shakespeare 14).
The two plays are analogous of their relation regarding vast imagery, visual outcome and a typical rhythmic construction that presented special consequence.
The main theme presented by these plays is personal identity as a component of realism. A literary writing attempt to portray a certain piece on thoughts of characters not explicitly expressed.
Recognizing themes of loyalty, honor, and tragedy, Sophocles and Shakespeare sarcastically ridicule fate and religious beliefs as a determinant of position of an individual in the society.
The main character Oedipus in the play “Oedipus the King”; is full of pride which he loses at the end and has to bow down to fate. Destiny is depicted as having forced the rather tensed society to embrace sudden change in order to escape the plague.
The audience is moved by Oedipus and imaginative exploration of memory manipulation and how fate can wreak havoc on humanity.
On the other hand, Shakespeare tries to blend the high-concept vision of the world with his own stylized and highly dramatized language in reflecting on the lives of Antipholus and Dromio. He creates a very human story that combines stories of both self-discovery and love.
Shakespeare succeeds in convincingly mingling the ‘futuristic’ and the ‘realistic’ imaginations to create a world of exotic exploitation and mind control characterized by time variances and societal imbalances (Shakespeare 14).
Same as Shakespeare’s reflection, the theme of tragedy is illustrated in the play “Oedipus the King”. Indeed, the author considers time as a marvelous nasty task. Oedipus intends to turn over features of time in order to command over time.
However, he fails miserably due to the underlying supernatural forces that had sealed his destiny at birth. However, with intelligence and braveness, Sophocles reflects on tragedy in an open, attractive and agitating language.
On the other hand, Shakespeare’s dedication possibly overlaid the approach for studying culture in the sundry time.
The key antagonists and protagonists accept fate eventually in the plays “Comedy of errors” and “Oedipus the King”. Interestingly, acceptance of fate is presented as a redeemer of what each character stands for. Oedipus, in the play “Oedipus the King” is the hero.
In the climax of the play, revelations point Oedipus as responsible for the death of his father as was prearranged by fate at his birth through the prophesy. Particularly, the death of Oedipus father forms the focal story line.
Comparatively, the play Comedy of errors, the two sets of twins also have to pay the price of mistaken identity in the then conservative society. They have to live with this fate despite being the victims.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William.The Comedy of Errors. Ed. David Bevington and David Scott Kastan. New York: Bantam, 2005. Print
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Ed. Grene David. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2012. Print.