The plays Hamlet and Oedipus Rex

The plays Hamlet and Oedipus Rex

The plays Hamlet and Oedipus Rex have significantly varying characters and plots but share in their portrayal of tragic heroes and the resolution of these tragedies, the downfall of the protagonists. The tragic hero is a character that makes an error, which is the cause of his defeat. According to Aristotle, five characteristics make a tragic hero: flaw (hamartia), a reversal of misfortune (peripetia), the actions of the character causes the reversal, excessive pride, and the fate of the cast is far higher than what they deserved. Hamlet and Oedipus clearly depict the tragic heroes as both protagonists have these characteristics.

Their flaws were their inability to make a sensible conclusion regarding the death of their fathers. Hamlet was reluctant to kill his uncle, Claudius, even though his father’s ghost has revealed to him the truth. “Ghost: revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (Hamlet 1.5.25). Oedipus Rex was ignorant in his will to find Laios’ murderer. He wanted Although Jocasta tried to convince him to stop investigating and listen to the messenger as she says, “Listen to what this man says, and then tell me/ What has become of the solemn prophesies,” (Sophocles Lines 43-44). He, however, ignores her and the prophecy.

Hamlet’s mistake led to his own death, that of his true love, Ofelia, and his mother. Although Hamlet is reluctant to kill his uncle while he is praying, Claudius has no restraint as he says, “Revenge should have no bounds,” (Hamlet 4.7.101). The mistakes of Oedipus led to Jocasta, his wife, committing when she found out the truth about his fate before him and his blindness, “He tore the golden brooches that upheld her queenly robe, upraised them high and smote full one his eye-balls” (Sophocles Lines 1266-1278).