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Amanda Wieske

Tracey 3043

EN4GU

April 13, 2023

Hamlet vs Oedipus: A Resilience Comparison

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,

demonstrating his innate resilience (Rockefeller).

On the other hand Oedipus’ resilience is demonstrated through his steadfast

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

comparison is a valuable demonstration of the importance of personal agency and adaptability in

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

Arcadia. “Freud's Psychoanalytical Approach and Shakespeares' Hamlet.” By Arcadia, 4 June

2022,

https://www.byarcadia.org/post/freud-s-psychoanalytical-approach-and-shakespeares-ha

mlet. Accessed 13 April 2023.

Cambridge Dictionary. “RESILIENCE | English meaning.” Cambridge Dictionary, 8 February

2023, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/resilience. Accessed 15

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

dipus.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2023.

Hurley, Katie, and Allison Young. “What Is Resilience? Definition, Types, Building Resiliency,

Benefits, and Resources.” Everyday Health, 14 July 2022,

https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/. Accessed 9 March 2023.

MIT. “Hamlet: Entire Play.” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html. Accessed 9 March 2023.

“Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship.” Mayo Clinic, 14 July 2022,

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20

046311. Accessed 9 March 2023.

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Rockefeller, Lily. “Hamlet Characters: Descriptions and Analysis.” ThoughtCo, 10 January 2020,

https://www.thoughtco.com/hamlet-characters-descriptions-analysis-4427907#toc-hamlet

. Accessed 9 March 2023.