The Tragic Hero In Sophocles's Hamlet And Oedipus The King

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A tragedy is an event that causes suffering, in literature this translates to the downfall or failure of the principle character. The audience is not only supposed to feel the character’s suffering, but also see through his nature and pick out flaws, which are then used to understand the reason for the downfall. The plays Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus the King by Sophocles are both centered around a tragic hero. However, Oedipus is the more effective tragic hero because his nature better embodies Aristotle’s elements of a tragedy. Oedipus is more tragic due to hubris and catharsis.
To begin, it is in Oedipus’s nature to show more hubris than Hamlet, making him a better tragic hero. While uncovering the truth, Oedipus’s prideful …show more content…

His hubris clouds his ability to reason, leading to his failure. Unlike Oedipus, Hamlet lacks hubris in his nature, making him a less effective tragic hero. First of all, Hamlet is insecure in his ability to seek revenge for his father. After watching an acting troupe perform he think he is, “a dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak/ Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause” (shakespeare.2.2.553-4). Hamlet’s lack of hubris is shown by the insults that he hurls at himself. His failure stems from the lack of conviction he has for his cause, whereas Oedipus who possesses persistence and pride in his nature. Hamlet lacks conviction in himself, and admits it. Unlike Oedipus whose pride blinds him and thus will not heed the words of the blind prophet. Also, Hamlet sees the flaws within. While thinking about is how ashamed he is, he says, “While to my shame I see/ the imminent death of twenty thousand men/ go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot” (4.4.61-3). Hamlet feels the opposite of pride, he feels shameful and embarrassed because those without true cause are fighting over plots of land, but he has the means to avenge his father …show more content…

Oedipus’s actions are unintentional, which makes the consequences much harder to bear. While conversing with the Shepherd, the truth about Oedipus’s birth comes to light, he says, “O light! May I never look on you again, Revealed as I am, sinful in my begetting, sinful in marriage, sinful in shedding of blood!” (Sophocles, 1156-1158). When he learns the truth he feels great despair. Oedipus is able to invoke pity from the audience easily as the once strong and powerful ruler is reduced to nothing. His nature aids in his failure, as it is his pride and relentless search for the truth that brings his crimes to light, this causes the purging of emotions to be much stronger, as he committed the sin unknowingly and took all measures necessary to prevent his misfortune, it allows the audience to feel pity towards him. Moreover, Oedipus harbours an immense amount of guilt over the actions which were predetermined by fate. He gouges out his eyes as punishment as, “how could i meet my father beyond the grave with seeing eyes; or my unhappy mother, against whom i have committed such heinous sin as no mere death could pay for?”(1372-1375). Oedipus tries his best to thwart the prophecy so it will not come true, however his fate was predetermined. Oedipus blinds himself, this shows his extreme feelings of regret as he was not able to prove the prophecy false. Since Oedipus acts according to

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