What's a good essay theme for a comparison essay between Hamlet and Oedipus Rex?

Question

It has to be really narrowed down, a specific theme, and if possible, it has to be about the literary resources more than about the theme.

Answer 1

The one that springs most immediately to mind is incest, of course. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is forecast to kill his father and marry his mother (and he does). In Hamlet, Hamlet's mother marries Hamlet's uncle very soon after Hamlet's father dies. That's not incest in its strictest sense, but some adaptations of the play focus on the relationship between Hamlet and his mother. For a classic example of this, check out the film version with Laurence Olivier. That might even be an example of a resource you can use for the essay; good luck!

Answer 2

Instances of self-injury and suicide in Oedipus the King, for example, suggest the tenacity of life in a world controlled by fate, but considered more broadly in the context of all three plays, the prevalence of suicide and self-injury also suggests the sense of profound desperation and need for control experienced by humans controlled by fate.



Hamlet is shadowed by the original Biblical betrayal: one brother’s jealous murder of another. But this is just the beginning. Betrayal is inherent in every relationship in Hamlet, from parents manipulating their children to friends spying on friends to lover pitted against lover. He too is challenged with fate vs. his own human choices.



From Shmoop

Answer 3

circumstances of self-harm and suicide in Oedipus the King, working example, advise the tenacity of existence in a worldwide controlled via destiny, yet acknowledged greater widely interior the context of all 3 performs, the occurrence of suicide and self-harm additionally exhibits the experience of profound desperation and need for manage experienced by ability of human beings controlled by ability of ability of destiny. Hamlet is shadowed by ability of way of the elementary Biblical betrayal: one brother’s jealous homicide of a distinctive. even nonetheless it is in basic terms the setting up. Betrayal is inherent in each and each relationship in Hamlet, from mom and dad manipulating their babies to associates spying on friends to lover pitted against lover. He too is challenged with destiny vs. His very own human possibilities. From Shmoop

Answer 4

Oedipus develops feelings for the woman who turns out to be his mother wheras Hamlet possesses feelings for his mother knowingly.

Answer 5

Hamlet : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet



Oedipus Rex : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_Rex