Hamlet vs. Oedipus Rex: Who Is More Resilient? Essay

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In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a protagonist; he is seeking the truth and is unconcerned about the harm it may pose. Since he is the protagonist of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet does not require any introduction. This figure is a scholar who loses his mind and personality in pursuit of the truth; they both occur in well-known classic dramas. Hamlet devises a brilliant psychological plan for exposing the offender: “I will observe his looks; / I will tent him to the quick. If he but blench, / I know my course” (Shakespeare 173). It is clear that they are looking for the truth and would go to any length to find out who the murderer is.

Oedipus’ character is equally as significant as Hamlet’s but in a different manner. Rather than taking simple procedures to discover the truth, he employs deception. He might, for instance, have just approached his uncle. Therefore, Hamlet creates a drama to test the accuracy of the information offered by the ghost. Everything is evident to him based on his uncle’s reply. However, Oedipus is so moved by the injustice that he resolves to look into the assassination of the former King himself. He is a very active person who bases his decisions on reasoning and evidence. King Oedipus states, “Words scare not him who blenches not at deeds” (Sophocles 19). This statement illustrates his certainty in his morality as well as his quest for knowledge of the truth, which cannot damage the innocent. Hamlet, on the other hand, loves to ponder the situation and consider his options before acting. Furthermore, he puts his faith in his intuition above anything else.

King Oedipus and Hamlet, united by their determination to discover the truth and punish the offenders, show different methods of inquiry. Both the dynamic and energetic personality of one and the philosophic, reflective, and skeptical nature of the other lead to the accomplishment of their goals. The hand of fate, on the other hand, predicts a catastrophic conclusion for them both. Oedipus and Hamlet are shattered by the harshness of their fate after disclosing the facts and completing their mission.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Robert Hapgood. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Print.

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Minneapolis, MN: Filiquarian Publishing LLC, 2006. Print.

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