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Oedipus Rex and Hamlet's Resilience
Oedipus Rex and Hamlet's Resilience
Amanda Wieske
Tracey 3043
EN4GU
Oedipus is resilient in his story, some might say more resilient than Hamlet, but this essay
proves otherwise. Hamlet is a more resilient character than Oedipus. Hamlet shows resilience in
his patience toward hardship, his courage to do what's right, and his determination to do the right
thing even with tenuous circumstances. Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus Rex by
Sophocies are two of the most iconic plays in Western literature. Despite being written in
different time periods both plays explore the theme of resilience through their main characters.
Hamlet and Oedipus are the protagonists of their plays and exhibit different forms of resilience
(Cambridge Dictionary).
Hamlet’s resilience is shown through his ability to endure emotional pain and overcome
obstacles on his quests. He constantly struggles with his own psyche and the weight of making
decisions that ultimately lead to his death. Hamlet also displays resilience in the face of
adversity. Despite dealing with the tragic loss of his father and his uncle's subsequent marriage to
his mother, Hamlet continues to seek justice for his father's death, though through questionable
means. Moreover, Hamlet resists the temptation to take his own life in times of great distress,
determination to solve the mystery of his identity and uncover the truth behind his fate. Oedipus
is resilient because even after facing numerous challenges, such as being abandoned by his
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biological parents, falsely accused of a crime, and struggling with the consequences of fulfilling
a prophecy, he continues to persevere and maintains his dignity and strength throughout the play,
despite being subjected to ridicule and scorn although, ultimately, accepting his fate (Fitts and
Sophocles).
The characters of Hamlet and Oedipus in literature are considered two of the most
complex and intriguing personalities, driven by fate yet immensely resilient to adversities.
Hamlet's resilience is shown in his ability to cope with the grief and pain of losing his father, as
well as in his determination to seek justice for him. He also demonstrates resilience in his ability
to endure the emotional turmoil caused by his mother's remarriage, and by extension, her
supposed betrayal. Hamlet is more resilient than Oedipus in terms of his ability to withstand
emotional challenges and overcome personal struggles. This resilience is due in part to his
intelligence, which allows him to understand and navigate complex situations. Oedipus is less
resilient than Hamlet because he is confined by the notion of fate and he ultimately fails in his
attempts to escape it. Freud notes that although both Hamlet and Oedipus share a common theme
of parental conflict, the two characters differ in their emotional responses to their predicaments
(Arcadia). While Hamlet is able to grapple with his complex family issues and ultimately seek
revenge against those who have wronged him, Oedipus is hopelessly trapped by his
predetermined fate, unable to change the course of events despite his best efforts. Moreover, the
concept of resilience is closely tied to one's ability to adapt and recover from adversity. In this
context, Hamlet exhibits a greater degree of resilience compared to Oedipus. This resilience
overcoming challenges, which can be applied across various contexts beyond literature analysis
such as in psychology, education and leadership. Furthermore, the concept of resilience is not
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limited to characters in literature but also has real-world applications. For example, resilience is a
crucial factor in addressing mental health issues and crisis management (Hurley and Young).
Shakespeare's play Hamlet is about a young prince who seeks revenge for the murder of
his father, while Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex is about a king who unknowingly fulfills a
prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Hamlet is focused on the idea of free will and independence, while Oedipus is focused on the
idea of fate and destiny. Both Hamlet and Oedipus are tragic figures who experience extreme
personal turmoil. However, while Oedipus succumbs to his fate and suffers the consequences of
his actions, Hamlet manages to maintain a certain resilience despite facing similar challenges.
This resilience can be attributed to Hamlet's ability to adapt and improvise in the face of
adversity, as well as his willingness to seek out advice and support from others. Furthermore,
Hamlet's intelligence and strategic thinking allow him to navigate complex political situations
with a certain amount of success. In contrast, Oedipus shows a lack of resilience when facing
adversity, as he seems unable to adapt or change his behavior in response to new information.
Additionally, Oedipus displays a certain amount of hubris or overconfidence in his own abilities,
which ultimately leads to his downfall. Hamlet is more resilient than Oedipus.
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Works Cited
2022,
https://www.byarcadia.org/post/freud-s-psychoanalytical-approach-and-shakespeares-ha
February 2023.
FITTS, DUDLEY, and Sophocles. “Oedipus Rex.” Full Text Oedipus, Dudley Fitts,
https://www.fusd1.org/cms/lib/AZ01001113/Centricity/Domain/1385/Full%20text%20Oe
Hurley, Katie, and Allison Young. “What Is Resilience? Definition, Types, Building Resiliency,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20
Rockefeller, Lily. “Hamlet Characters: Descriptions and Analysis.” ThoughtCo, 10 January 2020,
https://www.thoughtco.com/hamlet-characters-descriptions-analysis-4427907#toc-hamlet