Similarities Between Hamlet And Oedipus

In Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ and Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Tyrannous’ women are considered rather insignificant and are victims to objectification, inferiority ( in comparisons to men ). In Hamlet this is revealed through the character of Ophelia as well as his mother the queen Gertrude. In Oedipus, both his daughter and mother Jocasta are only significant through the relationships to the men around them. They are conveyed as dispensable, hysterical and irrelevant characters ruled by their feelings and the men around them. Their motives and thoughts are insignificant and only become relevant when in relation to the male figures around them. This further reflects the attitudes of the time highlighting clearly that men dominated and women were considered …show more content…
The ghost gives Hamlet a reason to carry out revenge against Claudius. Previous to his disrespect towards his Claudius which can be seen in Act 1 scene 2; when hamlet states “ a little more than kin and less than kind”after his uncle labels him as his “nephew and son”. The cause of hamlet’s revenge is a consequence of Gertrude’s actions which hamlet is disgusted and humiliated by , “ she married. O most wicked speed, to post/ with such dexterity to incestuous sheets” highlighting that his mother Gertrude’s significance is only due to her incestuous relationship with hamlet’s uncle King Claudius. With Hamlets contempt for king Claudius already evident, his encounter with the ghost only heightened his disgust for his mother. The ghost, while simply intending to provide motive to kill Claudius, also rants about Gertrude’s “unnatural” and “incestuous”relationship with Claudius. The ghost then eventually derails off from his purpose, although he departs by saying his original order and telling Hamlet not to be effected by his mothers disloyalty. “But howsoever thou pursues this act/ taint not thy mind, nor thy soul contrive/ against thy mother aught”. Hamlet …show more content…
Whilst Oedipus does show a more affectionate approach to his daughter it also .shows the female objectification that was prevalent during the time. Oedipus is basing his daughters life off the thought of marriage and reliance on a man. Oedipus considers women as frail and describes his daughter as, “ my daughter, poor creatures! They never ate a single meal without their father, Creon take care of them” once again reinforcing the statement that the women in Oedipus Tyrannous in this instance his daughter can not live with out the existence of her father and her significance on this earth without him is a struggle. Oedipus and his wife, Jocasta, commit the ultimate acts of sin by the gods they want to change their destiny and fate. Oedipus did not know that he un intentionally murdered his own father and had a incestuous relationship with his mother, even though he was warned by the oracle at Delphi . The character of Jocasta, which is Oedipus’ mother and wife keeps Oedipus calm by going against the prophecies and his worries “ you need not give them any credence” . In the end the kings investigation leads him to the truth and Jocasta, after being deemed foolish, takes her life just like Ophelia. In deed signs of