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Hamlet Resilience Essay

1429 Words6 Pages

Resilience, symbolized by the effortless snap-back of a stretched rubber band, is a remarkable quality that allows us to quickly rebound from difficult situations. Just like a rubber band always returns to its original shape, resilience enables us to overcome any challenges that come our way. However, it's important to remember that pushing resilience too far can lead to a breaking point. Hamlet and Oedipus Rex are iconic characters from ancient Greek tragedies, each facing distinct difficulties that test their resilience. In Shakespeare's classic tragedy, "Hamlet," the protagonist seeks revenge for his father's murder, committed by his own uncle. Throughout his journey, Hamlet encounters numerous obstacles and experiences betrayal from those …show more content…

Similarly, in Sophocles' tragic play, "Oedipus Rex," Oedipus grapples with the challenge of uncovering the murderer of the late king, only to discover that the old king is his father whom he unknowingly killed years ago. During this journey, he discovers that he has married his mother and procreated with her. Despite these different trials, both characters navigate treacherous paths and demonstrate their resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances. In "Hamlet," the character of Hamlet displays greater resilience compared to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" through his willingness to confront the truth, reliance on free will rather than fate, and unwavering determination to fight until his final …show more content…

Upon receiving the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, he unquestioningly embraced its validity without challenging it. However, if he employed his common knowledge and free will, the course of events might have been altered. For instance, he tragically killed Laius in a dispute that could have been avoided with restraint. Additionally, when tasked with uncovering the murderer of the former king of Thebes, Oedipus willingly accepted the challenge, firmly believing it was his destiny to expose the killer and save his city. Unfortunately, his unwavering trust in fate and blind devotion to prophecies ultimately led to his downfall. The passage "What greeting can touch my ears with joy? Take me away, and haste—to the place out of the way! Take me away, my friends, the greatly miserable, the most accursed, whom God too hates above all men on earth!"(Sophocles 1525-1530) highlights Oedipus's conviction that he is cursed and abandoned by the gods, further emphasizing his belief in the power of fate. In comparison, Hamlet demonstrates a preference for free will over fate. When the ghost appears before him, he does not blindly trust that fate has brought the ghost to him. Instead, he questions and analyzes the situation, stating, "I'll have grounds More relative than this. The play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (Shakespeare 2.2.632-634). This

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