tragic heroes
Hamlet and Oedipus as Tragic Heroes
The term “tragic hero” is usually defined by one of the most important characters throughout a Greek or Roman play. Both plays Hamlet and Oedipus are both tragedies, because they display a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force which is their destiny. Having a distressed or catastrophic conclusion that leads to pity or terror. A tragic hero always acts exactly on his or her own emotions; thus aiding their tragic flaw and leading to their own demise without giving them the time to stop the repercussions of their emotion driven actions. Before analyzing that Hamlet and Oedipus, the critical approach used in both plays are archetypal analysis. Both tragic heroes, must at least follow the following; royal birth or of a higher class, they must have a fatal flaw, usually their punishment outweighs their crime, and then finally, sometime during where tragedy takes place there should be some sort of self-realization for that character. Hamlet and Oedipus are both tragic heroes as they discover their fate by their own actions, they fall from great esteem and their story arises fear and empathy. Both men hold high statuses in their city, in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, Hamlet is a member of a royal family, the son of Old Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. He’s the next in line for the throne. This makes Hamlet the second most powerful man in Denmark, as he is the prince. Unfortunately, his Uncle Claudius (King of Denmark) has taken over for his brother. In Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex”, Oedipus is the ruler or the king of Thebes. He was born into royal blood by King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. He’s high standing in both political and the social hierarchy as he is the king and is very well known around the world. Hamlet possesses noble virtues, as he wants revenge and justice for his father. As his uncle poisoned his own brother, which made Hamlet’s strategy to kill him. Oedipus’ possesses noble virtues all over
The term “tragic hero” is usually defined by one of the most important characters throughout a Greek or Roman play. Both plays Hamlet and Oedipus are both tragedies, because they display a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force which is their destiny. Having a distressed or catastrophic conclusion that leads to pity or terror. A tragic hero always acts exactly on his or her own emotions; thus aiding their tragic flaw and leading to their own demise without giving them the time to stop the repercussions of their emotion driven actions. Before analyzing that Hamlet and Oedipus, the critical approach used in both plays are archetypal analysis. Both tragic heroes, must at least follow the following; royal birth or of a higher class, they must have a fatal flaw, usually their punishment outweighs their crime, and then finally, sometime during where tragedy takes place there should be some sort of self-realization for that character. Hamlet and Oedipus are both tragic heroes as they discover their fate by their own actions, they fall from great esteem and their story arises fear and empathy. Both men hold high statuses in their city, in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, Hamlet is a member of a royal family, the son of Old Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. He’s the next in line for the throne. This makes Hamlet the second most powerful man in Denmark, as he is the prince. Unfortunately, his Uncle Claudius (King of Denmark) has taken over for his brother. In Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex”, Oedipus is the ruler or the king of Thebes. He was born into royal blood by King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. He’s high standing in both political and the social hierarchy as he is the king and is very well known around the world. Hamlet possesses noble virtues, as he wants revenge and justice for his father. As his uncle poisoned his own brother, which made Hamlet’s strategy to kill him. Oedipus’ possesses noble virtues all over