Self Destruction In Oedipus And Hamlet By William Shakespeare

Improved Essays
Obsession is the single most wasteful activity because becoming obsessed leads to irrational actions and self destruction. In the plays, King Oedipus by Sophocles and Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the writers express how the protagonists are the makers of their own fate and self destruction. The authors demonstrate that humans who possess or are ruled by obsessive behavior will only act rashly and cause their own demise.

The obsessive nature of both Oedipus and Hamlet proves to lead to dangerous consequences.

A1 Q#1O Firstly, Oedipus believes that his fate cannot come to pass and he becomes obsessed with proving he is right. He states to the prophet Teiresias, “Of prophecy you profess. It is for yourself/ It is for Thebes. it is
…show more content…
Oedipu pushes others for selfish reasons in order to assure himself that he is right. When Oedipus does receive the truth, it becomes very dangerous because it destroys his family and himself. Oedipus does not take into account the consequences of his search even after he was warned to stop. On the contrary, Hamlet acknowledges some of the consequences of his actions and takes more careful measures than Oedipus. Although he still desires for justice to be served by proving the truth. The characters actions result to be irrational and eventually leads to their individual …show more content…
The attendant of Oedipus states, “With golden brooches which the king snatched out/ and thrust, into his eyes/ Eyes that should see no longer his shame, his guilt/ No longer see those they should never have seen.” (Sophocles 61) Due to Oedipus’ obsession and persistence, it eventually leads him to uncovering the truth. After this, Oedipus cannot handle the pain of the truth and reverts to physically gouging out his eyes. This act proves to be severely ridiculous and therefore, is climax of his self destruction

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    He worried about whether he was going to die according to the prophecy. Oedipus’ confidence that he was above his own fate made him search for someone else to take the blame. He showed his distinguishing intelligence…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oedipus reveals his worry and his need to meet his safety necessities. His promise to not return to Corinth demonstrates his efforts to eradicate his…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oedipus, prideful in his actions, unintentionally bestows a curse upon himself, meaning to curse the murderer of his father and husband of his mother. Oedipus is, in fact, the person that he cursed, which results with him having to face grim ramifications. Oedipus’ pride is evident through his belief that he can overcome his fate. Oedipus actually believes that his destiny will not apply to him, regardless of what the famed prophet Tiresias says will come of him. Ultimately, Oedipus’ ego is the driving force in what does, says, and thinks.…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In literature, the mental afflictions of certain characters play a definitive role in the work. Hamlet, from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, portrays himself as a madman. However eccentric his actions are, they have a strong purpose in his plan for revenge. In addition, Hamlet’s behaviour is significant to the work as a whole, supporting the theme of manipulation. Overall, Hamlet’s bizarre behaviour has an important role in both advancing the plot and developing themes.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oedipus’ inability to control his emotions and as a result let them interfere with his actions, led to his downfall. He went from a confident and powerful king to a person so desperate and out-of-control that he gauges his own eyes out. The play starts with words of suffering, as the city has been…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In this way, Tersias proves his spiritual sight. And even though Oedipus mocks Tiresias for his physical blindness, it is clear that until Oedipus accepts the truth, he will be blind in a more terrible way than Tiresias could ever be. He is blind to his own unforgivable evils even though he is able to see the world around him. Due to his lack of acceptance, Oedipus continues searching for the truth and learning more about the mysterious circumstances of the murder because he is so set on finding justice. It is only after an eyewitness exposes the events of the murder that Oedipus is forced to accept the truth and at the same time learns…

    • 1256 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When Oedipus finally sees these terrible truths of his life, Sophocles continues to use dramatic with this metaphor by having the king Oedipus stab out his own eyes. Oedipus says he does this because he can no longer look at the horrors that his unwitting actions have…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The theme of suicide can be found in many aspects of society such as literature as well as the daily life of people. In Hamlet, Shakespeare explores the theme of suicide through Hamlet’s life and the way that Hamlet deals with the problems that he encounters. The theme of suicide is significant in Hamlet because it greatly influences Hamlet’s thoughts and interactions with other characters. The theme of suicide is created through the experiences that Hamlet faces while he deals with the issues in his life. The decision whether to commit suicide or to live is based on one’s environment, perspective, and current emotions.…

    • 1842 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    In saying this he is letting his people know that when they suffer he suffers even more. His suffering comes from the responsibility he feels for his people and feels the pain of every last one of his subjects. Oedipus put his people first wanting to solve this problem in any way possible. When he finds out that it is him who is the cause of this due to the fate the gods choose for him he blinded himself saying “This punishment… That I have laid upon myself is just” (Exodos 142-43). Oedipus knew this was his fate decided at his birth by the gods and in the end did not try to fight the gods any longer putting his people first.…

    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is why knowledge is not inherently good or evil. It can be dangerous if it’s the wrong kind, but if Oedipus had a plan before leaving maybe things could have turned out…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    His own parents thought he was dead so no longer worried about being killed by their son. Oedipus knew about the prophecy and tried to avoid it by leaving his home and making a life in Thebes, unknowingly setting the prophecy in motion. Oedipus demonstrates his good-heartedness throughout the play by putting others before himself regardless of what has happened to him. Oedipus does not deserve his fate.…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Sophocles gives a whole new meaning to the word destiny in his Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes are told a horrific oracle in which their son kills his father, marries his mother, and has children with her as well. In order to prevent the oracle from coming true, they abandon their son, Oedipus, on top of a mountain. A man working for King Polybus, who is the king of Corinth, finds Oedipus and gives him to King Polybus and Queen Merope. Many years later, Oedipus hears the oracle and decides to leave Corinth and go to Thebes to escape the tragedy waiting for him.…

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oedipus As A Tragic Hero

    • 1493 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Virginia Boggs Mrs. Meng ENGL 201-D36 LUO 12 December 2014 Oedipus: The Tragic Hero Aristotle’s definition of the tragic hero is one that combines specific qualities. One is that the main person in the tragedy must be of superior status. Another quality is that the main character must be a person that is well liked by other characters in the play and the audience. The main person in the tragedy will also have flaws that not only bring him down but also other people around him.…

    • 1493 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Oh, Ohhh - the agony! I am agony - where am I going where on earth?where does all this agony hurl me? where’s my voice? - winging, swept away on a dark tide - My destiny, my dark power, what a leap you made!”(line 1444-1449) these are the words spoken by a king now broken in his darkest hour. In the play Oedipus The King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus represents the tragic theme that making rash decisions without reason and overstepping one’s limits to defy those of superior status can cause suffering to not only oneself but those around them. Oedipus, through bringing a plague upon his people, condemning himself to a life of misery, and dooming his family to lives of shame and grisly deaths, acts as the great conductor of doom for the people of the city of Thebes.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I chose to write my essay over how the theme topics of blindness and identity influence the character of Oedipus. Oedipus is a character that stands out to me because he is very wise, but takes a long time to solve his own “riddle”. Oedipus must solve the conflict given to him by Apollo, to break the curse on Thebes from the plague that could potentially wipe out the town. After reading this play I am shocked that Oedipus, a well-respected and known man, would have killed Laius, his father and previous ruler of Thebes. Throughout the play, Oedipus was blind to what he had done, blind to the truth of his identity, and even blinded of sight due to gouging out his own eyes.…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays