The hierarchical females of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and Sophocles" "Oedipus Rex" share many common threads. "Hamlet's" Gertrude and "Oedipus"" Iokaste mirror each other by their submissive attitudes and their inability to acknowledge the blatantly obvious. Both characters are guilty of taking part in an incestuous relationship. Iokaste's manipulation by the Gods and Gertrude's manipulation by the Claudius is also a related factor. However, the most significant similarity ... to murder his father and wed his mother. Although Iokaste had wanted nothing more but to raise her family and revel in t...

• Word Count: 1047
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... most thoroughly for my father". In certain societies today, there is still a moral obligation for a male family member to avenge a death or injury of another family member. The two characters are further challenged by the Christian edict of "thou shall not kill", but also by the familial piety and duty that was expected at the time. Through the ... psychosomatic damage arising from the pursuit of revenge still resonate. Shakespeare's masterpiece not only represents the pinnacle of English literature. As Sigmund Freud has stated, its greatness rivals that of Oedipus Rex and The Brothers ...

• Word Count: 1105
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... which a Hero dies is considered a tragedy. There are more elements needed to label a play one. Probably the most important element is an amount of free will. In every tragedy, the characters must displays some. If every action is controlled by a hero's destiny, then the hero's death can't be avoided, and in a tragedy the sad part is that it could. Hamlet's death ... bad trait made him evil. Also a tragic hero doesn't have to die. While in all Shakespearean tragedies, the hero dies, in others he may live but suffer "Moral Destruction". In Oedipus Rex, the proud yet morally blind king plu...

• Word Count: 1033
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... which a Hero dies is considered a tragedy. There are more elements needed to label a play one. Probably the most important element is an amount of free will. In every tragedy, the characters must displays some. If every action is controlled by a hero's destiny, then the hero's death can't be avoided, and in a tragedy the sad part is that it could. Hamlet's death ... bad trait made him evil. Also a tragic hero doesn't have to die. While in all Shakespearean tragedies, the hero dies, in others he may live but suffer "Moral Destruction". In Oedipus Rex, the proud yet morally blind king plu...

• Word Count: 1033
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School