"Oedipus Rex" versus "Hamlet"

Paper Summary:

This paper evaluates the influential aspects of the Sophoclean Grecian tragedy on the latter forms of Shakespearean tragedy used within the Elizabethan period. It discusses the various psychological and political issues that abound in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles and how Oedipus acts as a clear role model for the insanity that Hamlet exhibits within Shakespeare's "Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark".

From the Paper:

"In conclusion, the reemergence of the Greek tragedy in the Elizabethan era can be readily seen through the works of William Shakespeare through the influence of Sophocles. The plays Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark and Oedipus rex provide textual examples of the psychological and political disposition of the heroic character that is doomed to death due to errors in judgment. By understanding the principle aspects of the tragic hero in the work of Sophocles, one can realize why Shakespeare uses many of the literary devices that define tragedy along the Greek model. This inevitably appears in Hamlet and Oedipus through the presence of insanity in their thought process, but also in their lack of control over the political forces that seek to destroy them. This is how William Shakespeare readily provides an example of the reemergence of Greek tragedy in the Elizabethan era through the tragic works of Sophocles."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shakespeare, William. "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." 2005. Massachusetts Institute of technology. 25 October, 2006. <http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/hamlet/>
• Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." 2005. Greece.com. 25 October, 2006. <http://www.greece.com/library/sophocles/oedipus_king_01.html>

More papers on "Oedipus Rex" versus "Hamlet":

• Comparison Essay # 117904 : "Oedipus and Hamlet: Tragedies of Faith?"
• Essay # 71220 : "Oedipus Rex"
• Comparison Essay # 8869 : "Social Influence in "Lysistrata," "Oedipus Rex" and "A Raisin In The Sun"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: