Compare and contrast the role of religion in all three of the literary pieces. This research paper analyze the role of religion between Homer’s poem the Odyssey, William Shakespeare Hamlet and Sophocles Oedipus the King. It will also analyze the similarities as well as contrast how the gods and religion played a crucial role in the fate of each of the characters that are portrayed. This paper seeks to compare and contrast the role of religion in Oedipus the King by Sophocles, William Shakespeare Hamlet, and Homer the Odyssey translated by Robert Fagles.
In the tragic play Oedipus the king, religion influenced the social structure throughout the book. The state leader is Oedipus. There’s a direct parallel in the demise of the city-state and his household which finally comes to demolish him at the end. Though the people praised Oedipus for being an honest and responsible king; he plays the main character flaw in his feelings towards the gods leading to the torture caused by him in the end (Capps and Donald 105). Another significant factor that contributes to the
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William Shakespeare did not support or follow anyone’s religion. However, he had a great deal of religious education. In Hamlet’s play, Shakespeare uses his religion’s culture and knowledge to influence audience reactions for which it was intended originally (Lear and Othello 113). This is witnessed by seeing the way the Elizabethans confusion regarding religion. Additionally, he applies conflicting cultures to evoke audience responses. In Hamlet’s play, the ghost is an example of this according to the belief in the Catholic system. Additionally, Hamlet’s father spirit is in purgatory. Meaning, he is not harmful, during penance. On the other hand, according to the Protestant beliefs, any ghost was evil because purgatory did not exist. Also, Shakespeare controls the audience reactions by using conflicting