Paper 2 Oedipus And Hamlet
Oedipus the King and Hamlet: Tragedies?
Paper #2
Due: Thursday, November 14, 2002
Jeffrey Shelton
C Lit 300
Oedipus and Hamlet: Tragedies?
The plays of Oedipus the King and Hamlet, although written in different time periods concoct the same form of tragedy. The definition of a tragedy as stated by Aristotle includes a characters hamartia or tragic flow, the reversal of the situation, recognition, suffering, natural means, as well as pity and fear. Oedipus the King attains all of these qualities of tragedy, as well as Hamlet written 2000 years later. Aristotle’s tragic flaw is seen in Oedipus the King through the bipolar personality and persistency of Oedipus. Oedipus is riddled with rage and holds the capacity for murderous action as well however as holding a saving grace and compassion for his people. This duality of character relays the notion that he is neither moral nor virtuous and hence is burdened by misfortune and tragedy. Persistency adds to the tragedy of Oedipus as he unnecessarily searches for the murderer of Laius. This quality leads Oedipus to his suffering, recognition, and reversal of situation. Oedipus states “Upon the murderer I invoke this curse - / whether he is one man and all unknown, / one or many - may he wear out his life / in misery to miserable doom” (246-259). Because of this persistence to reveal the truth he inherently curses himself, thus bringing upon self-imposed misery as well as that employed by the gods. Jocasta states “I beg you - do not hunt this out - I beg you. / If you have any care for your own life”. (1060-1) in response to Oedipus’s goal, but Oedipus bring forth tragedy by failing to heed to her plea. The reversal of situation is the first attribute of the tragedy that Oedipus brings upon himself as a result of his tragic flow. Oedipus’s encounter with Teiresias proves to be a turning point in the story as this is the first time Oedipus is told the truth about the murder of King Laius
Paper #2
Due: Thursday, November 14, 2002
Jeffrey Shelton
C Lit 300
Oedipus and Hamlet: Tragedies?
The plays of Oedipus the King and Hamlet, although written in different time periods concoct the same form of tragedy. The definition of a tragedy as stated by Aristotle includes a characters hamartia or tragic flow, the reversal of the situation, recognition, suffering, natural means, as well as pity and fear. Oedipus the King attains all of these qualities of tragedy, as well as Hamlet written 2000 years later. Aristotle’s tragic flaw is seen in Oedipus the King through the bipolar personality and persistency of Oedipus. Oedipus is riddled with rage and holds the capacity for murderous action as well however as holding a saving grace and compassion for his people. This duality of character relays the notion that he is neither moral nor virtuous and hence is burdened by misfortune and tragedy. Persistency adds to the tragedy of Oedipus as he unnecessarily searches for the murderer of Laius. This quality leads Oedipus to his suffering, recognition, and reversal of situation. Oedipus states “Upon the murderer I invoke this curse - / whether he is one man and all unknown, / one or many - may he wear out his life / in misery to miserable doom” (246-259). Because of this persistence to reveal the truth he inherently curses himself, thus bringing upon self-imposed misery as well as that employed by the gods. Jocasta states “I beg you - do not hunt this out - I beg you. / If you have any care for your own life”. (1060-1) in response to Oedipus’s goal, but Oedipus bring forth tragedy by failing to heed to her plea. The reversal of situation is the first attribute of the tragedy that Oedipus brings upon himself as a result of his tragic flow. Oedipus’s encounter with Teiresias proves to be a turning point in the story as this is the first time Oedipus is told the truth about the murder of King Laius