The archetype of the hero is one that has been countlessly portrayed by stories in nearly all cultures. Most stories about heroes share many common characteristics such as the journey they embark on to accomplish the task that has been laid before them. Along their plight, the hero develops as they pass through different phases of the journey and ultimately become the memorable character that is retold for years to come. These stories have fascinated the minds of people for quite some time and have been a platform for writers to create powerful stories around. Authors George Lucas and William Shakespeare have taken advantage of this storytelling in their masterpieces. Though both share similar aspects as to how they present their story, there
…show more content…
Luke faced an entire army of the empire along with the story’s main antagonist Darth Vader. Though rather than chase after Darth Vader himself we see Luke prepare instead to defeat the deathstar—which posed a larger threat to the galaxy than Vader did. Unlike hamlet, Luke was able to tame his lust for revenge whereas Hamlet got lost in it. Hamlet’s only target of concern was Claudius and relentlessly sought a way to accomplish it. Claudius persuaded many to join his side in killing Hamlet, and Polonius was one of them. Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius as he was spying on his conversation with Gertrude and says “Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind” (act 3 scene 4). Hamlet’s haste to kill Claudius blinds him with rage that he did not care who he has killed. But Shakespeare makes it known that revenge is path to self-destruction. It is this scene that sets up the events that plunge hamlet into true insanity as Ophelia commits suicide and now Hamlet must worry about Laertes. The unintended consequences of Hamlet’s journey shroud his future now that he has found himself in a difficult situation. This further separates him from Luke as the viewer can see who the more pure hero …show more content…
In the final scenes after the blood bath that kills the noble family takes place Fortinbras says “Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this becomes the field, but here shows much amiss” (act 5 scene 2). Even the king of the opposing army realizes that none of this should have ever taken place. Hamlet reached the end of his quest successful like Luke, although his “success” came with a horrifying price tag. Hamlet could not control his thirst for revenge and therefore faced those consequences. Shakespeare and Lucas made it clear that revenge would only lead one down a path of sorrow. Luke comes out the more mature man as he is able to see the consequences to these actions and is ultimately why he lives on to fight another day. Hamlet is truly a powerful tragedy that reveals the downfall of any man is not in anyone else but
Luke faced an entire army of the empire along with the story’s main antagonist Darth Vader. Though rather than chase after Darth Vader himself we see Luke prepare instead to defeat the deathstar—which posed a larger threat to the galaxy than Vader did. Unlike hamlet, Luke was able to tame his lust for revenge whereas Hamlet got lost in it. Hamlet’s only target of concern was Claudius and relentlessly sought a way to accomplish it. Claudius persuaded many to join his side in killing Hamlet, and Polonius was one of them. Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius as he was spying on his conversation with Gertrude and says “Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind” (act 3 scene 4). Hamlet’s haste to kill Claudius blinds him with rage that he did not care who he has killed. But Shakespeare makes it known that revenge is path to self-destruction. It is this scene that sets up the events that plunge hamlet into true insanity as Ophelia commits suicide and now Hamlet must worry about Laertes. The unintended consequences of Hamlet’s journey shroud his future now that he has found himself in a difficult situation. This further separates him from Luke as the viewer can see who the more pure hero …show more content…
In the final scenes after the blood bath that kills the noble family takes place Fortinbras says “Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this becomes the field, but here shows much amiss” (act 5 scene 2). Even the king of the opposing army realizes that none of this should have ever taken place. Hamlet reached the end of his quest successful like Luke, although his “success” came with a horrifying price tag. Hamlet could not control his thirst for revenge and therefore faced those consequences. Shakespeare and Lucas made it clear that revenge would only lead one down a path of sorrow. Luke comes out the more mature man as he is able to see the consequences to these actions and is ultimately why he lives on to fight another day. Hamlet is truly a powerful tragedy that reveals the downfall of any man is not in anyone else but