Meaning Of Life In Hamlet, White Fang, And Antigone

The drive to discover who one truly is and to understand the meaning of life has driven human actions and inspired stories for thousands of years. From the tragedies of Greece to modern literary works, characters combat the same challenges that many readers face in everyday life. Hamlet, Gregor, Arthur, White Fang, and Antigone all struggle to find who they are and their purpose in life throughout their adventures. Some, like Gregor in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”, are never able to truly discover who they are, while others, like Antigone in the play “Antigone” by Sophocles, know what they value most. Possessing a knowledge of the aspects of life that one values and staying true to those values leads to the understanding of what it truly means to be alive. The ability to understand what is truly important is something that Hamlet struggles with until his death. This lack of perception proves to be Hamlet’s downfall, as it is the root cause of his indecision. “Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood /And do such bitter business as the bitter day / Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.” exemplifies this trait, as Hamlet says he is prepared to kill Claudius, but immediately postpones his

White Fang develops strong morals as he passes the tests of life in the Arctic, however, he must learn that the environment shapes what one believes in. In a do or die world, White Fang must value his life above all else in order to survive. While White Fang did not fully understand “The law was: EAT OR BE EATEN,” it drove his instincts to survive and to defeat his threats. Throughout life, White Fang learned and lived by the law of meat and did what he had to do to survive. His relationship with Weeden Scott, however, forced White Fang to adapt and learn that not everything is about survival. He finally learned about companionship and friendship, about life