Oedipus and Hamlet: To Be Resilient, or Not to Be?

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Nature of Personal Tragedy
Hamlets and Oedipuss Response
Who Is More Resilient?
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

A famous quote attributed to Confucius says, Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall, and teaches people the main principle of resilience against all obstacles and struggles. Being resilient means keeping a positive outlook on life, never giving up, and carrying on living no matter what. High resilience means gaining control over negative emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, guilt, and others. It is the ability not to be led by emotions and to act on the basis of the actual state of affairs, regardless of the emotional difficulties of the situation. However, not every person has access to a stoic spirit that obeys a cold mind during times of trial. Both Sophocles Oedipus and William Shakespeares Hamlet are dramatic, deeply emotional characters in the grip of passion and emotion. That is why watching how they cope with the vicissitudes of fate is interesting since every person can share the experience when mental tossing and intense emotions capture them. Hamlet and Oedipus have low resilience, unable to respond quickly and flexibly to the vicissitudes of fate, which leads both to a tragic end.

The Nature of Personal Tragedy

Although at first glance Shakespeares Hamlet and Sophocles Oedipus are similar in their life and family tragedies, there is a difference in the nature of their suffering, which significantly affects the characters resilience. Oedipus is a wise ruler and tries to be a good and just person, but his fatal destiny still forces him to accept punishment for something against which he had no malicious intent. The Delphic oracle tells him: hell be revealed a brother and a father to his children in his house, husband and son to her who gave him birth; wife-sharer and the killer of his father (Sophocles 18). Since then, Oedipus has been losing peace, performing one emotional act after another. He does not return to Corinth, where he was king, and in horror, embarks on wanderings, where he finds his tragic fate, from which he flees. On the road, he kills an old man who turns out to be his father, Laius and defeats the Sphinx, for which he is made the ruler of Thebes and given as wife to Jocasta, his mother. Perhaps, if the hero behaved rationally, used the available information and power to find out who his real father and mother were, then he could influence the course of fate. In any case, it is Oedipus rash and emotional decision, dictated by momentary fright, that leads him to tragedy. Oedipuss act, though emotional, was aimed at fighting a terrible prophecy that could not be avoided.

The story of Hamlet differs from the tragedy of Oedipus since his choice to avenge his fathers death is not an inevitable fate of fate; he takes the decision and its consequences. Hamlet has a choice, to be, or not to be: that is the question, which is why his behavior is more thoughtful and strategic (Shakespeare 158). He can act more calmly, waiting for a good moment for revenge and weaving intrigues. However, Hamlets motivation is also built on negative emotions that lead his fate to a dead end. Eventually, he describes the poison he takes and metaphorically admits that his soul was destroyed by revenge: I die, Horatio! The potent poison quite overcrowd my spirit (Shakespeare 252). Hamlet seems more persistent because he behaves with more patience and self-control. However, his choice is reckless and dictated by the fact that he cannot accept the death of his father.

Hamlets and Oedipuss Response

The emotional reaction of Oedipus and Hamlet to the vicissitudes of fate is different. It seems that Hamlet is a more cold-blooded, measured person who can control his emotions better. He wants revenge but is well-prepared and thoughtful, as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge (Shakespeare 118). Hamlets experiences are dressed in the form of moral torments and internal monologues, which he does not show to anyone. He does not show his true feelings in dialogue with other characters, only sarcastically hinting at them. However, feelings guide Hamlets decisions when he hears an actor mourning a moving speech for a fictional character. Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, a broken voice, and his whole function suiting with forms to his conceitand all for nothing! acting inspires Hamlet to avenge his father (Shakespeare 153). Despite external equanimity and seeming resilience, Hamlet suffers inside, although he does not show these feelings reactively and publicly.

Oedipus reacts to events more emotionally and quickly gives in to making rash decisions, obeying his feelings. For example, after the prediction of the Delphic oracle, Oedipus suddenly decides to change his fate and not return to Corinth, which can be described as a highly emotional act. When Thebes suffers from the plague, Oedipus shows the depth of his experiences: his anguish, not anothers; but my spirit groans for the city. (Sophocles 2). As a king, he should have had a lot of composure and self-control, but bad news and disasters quickly throw him off balance. When Oedipus receives predictions from the oracle, revealing that he is the likely killer of Laius, Jocasta has to persuade him to calm down and not jump to conclusions. She asks Oedipus to show resilience and not give in to fears: Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. (Sophocles 39). Thus, at first glance, Oedipus Rex appears to be much less resilient than Hamlet, based on their emotional reactions and manifestations of feelings.

Who Is More Resilient?

As a result, the authors of the tragedies put their heroes in different circumstances. Oedipus is forced to submit to fate, even though he tries to fight it. This is because Sophocles believes in fate and the impossibility of escaping a predicted fate. Shakespeare, in turn, believes in the choice of man and the human will because Hamlet is the creator of his tragedy. In contrast, Oedipus is a victim of divine conduct. In this sense, Oedipus turns out to be more resilient since, in the end, he accepts fate and punishment for his crimes. In rage and despair, he kills his wife and mother and gouges out his own eyes: Why should I have eyes? Why was nothing worth seeing? Nothing (Sophocles 68). Oedipuss behavior is hysterical, but throughout his life, he strives for the best and believes in a happy outcome. Unfortunately, according to the ancient Greek view of life, fate cannot be rewritten or deceived.

Compared to Oedipus Rex, Hamlet is a much less energetic character who refuses to seek the truth and tries to change his life. He obeys the desire to avenge his father and does not look for other options and workarounds. Meanwhile, Oedipus demonstrates determination he is ready to take any measures, even the harshest and most uncomfortable ones, in order to deal with circumstances. The opposite effect is due to the fact that Oedipuss behavior is less rational and more impulsive. However, the direction of his actions and central goal are optimistic and active. On the other hand, Hamlet behaves rationally and more thoughtfully, but deep processes in his soul and personality trigger a chain of destructive changes. As a result, we can say that Hamlet chooses not salvation, forgiveness, and life but self-destruction and death. He initially does not seek to create; he breaks down psychologically in a critical situation and can no longer adapt to it. All his further existence is a tragic living out of life in suffering for the sake of revenge.

Conclusion

Resilience is an essential component of human existence, helping people to deal with lifes difficulties, overcome obstacles, and enjoy the fullness of life, no matter what. This is not so much the ability not to succumb to emotions in principle but the ability to choose an optimistic and life-affirming path. The tragic characters of Shakespeare and Sophocles were initially placed under challenging conditions, under heavy blows of fate. However, Sophocles Oedipus struggles with his fate and tries to avoid it despite its impossibility. He enjoys his life and brings many benefits to the people around him. Shakespeares Hamlet, in turn, does not seek salvation but devotes his life entirely to self-destructive revenge. His life turns into suffering and centers around a destructive idea, so he can be called a less resilient character.