Prompt:

In what ways is this literary work similar to, or different from, another literary work you have
studied in IB 11-12?

Write your response here:

Both Shen-Teh from Bertolt Brecht's "The Good Person of Szechwan" and Hamlet from
William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" are complex characters grappling with ethical dilemmas and
the human condition. Shen-Teh looks to follow the will of the Gods by maintaining her good
persona in a world where the majority isn’t good. Meanwhile Hamlet’s dilemma is the result of
his father’s death as he questions if he wants to get revenge and justice on his uncle,
Claudius. Both characters find their issues to be troubling, resulting in mental disorders in
both. While Shen-Teh’s identity disorder leads to the introduction of Shui Tah. Hamlet seems
to go insane with other characters questioning his mental stability. Shen-Teh and Hamlet,
despite being separated by both culture and time, share a common thread of emotional
complexity. Both characters' struggles are intertwined with broader philosophical questions
about the nature of good and evil, the legitimacy of power, and how they fit in society. By
delving deeply into the psychological and philosophical struggles of these characters, both
plays offer a glimpse into the complexities of the human experience that remains relevant
even in modern times. However the ways done are different as Shakespeare’s theater varies
in audience inclusion compared to Brecht’s “epic theater”.

Word Count: 204