Hamlet and Oedipus - Research Paper Example

? Introduction The concept of pursuing a murder, taking part in detective work and finding justice is one of the common themes used in literature. There are several stories which show how this is done as well as what is needed to solve a specific crime. In “Oedipus Rex” and “Hamlet,” there are specific pursuits that are used in finding information about the murder of the main characters fathers. By doing this, there is the ability to create tension in the plot and to show how there are direct relationships with the conflict which has occurred with both characters. Gathering Information To gather information, both Hamlet and Oedipus use similar means, specifically which arises from their own interest of their father’s death. This particular pursuit by both is one which is common for detective stories and has created a formulaic response that provides tension, conflict and interest from the reader. Using this formula becomes important for both characters to begin solving the mystery of the murder and to look at the various types of speculations which will prove the case correctly in the end. The main formula which is used includes a psychological response followed by asking others for information, then leading to the eventual evidence about the death. After this point, there is the ability to make accusations to those who may have been responsible for the murder (Porter, 25). In “Hamlet,” this process begins with his instant psychological response that his father didn’t die as was suspected by the majority population. His suspicions continue to arise until he is able to connect to forms of gossip in the community about the father’s death, specifically which begins with the beliefs of Horatio who has claimed that he has seen his father’s ghost. Once the information from the accusations have been confirmed, Hamlet uses a play to accuse his uncle of the death of his father by proving that he is guilty and interacting the steps he took with this death (Shakespeare, 37). The same type of information is gathered with “Oedipus.” The information is gathered from a blind seer who prophesizes the death. This is followed by confessions of the Queen and mother of Oedipus, news from a messenger and information which has spread about the death. The details are given through the accounted details, similar to the play Hamlet reveals the death in, which is followed by the downfall of Oedipus (Sophocoles, 17). Using the Supernatural Not only is there a specific process for finding information and evidence. There is also the use of the supernatural, both which begin the suspicion of the main characters and lead to the eventual truth about the situation. The concept of the supernatural is used to create suspicion and a psychological response from those who are involved in finding out about the murder of their father. The concept is one which is believed to hold dignity and moral rights throughout the stories while creating an understanding of what goes beyond the expected in both narratives. The detective work becomes possible only because each is able to believe and investigate from the unknown perspective first (Li, 6). With Hamlet, the concept of the supernatural comes from seeing the ghost of his father, first by another individual and then by him. This leads to the expectations that Hamlet has gone mad. However, there are several who see the ghost entering and leaving before this is made. The information given to Hamlet occurs when he asks why the ghost has come back. “Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damned, / Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell / Be thy intents wicked or charitable, / Thou coms’t in such a questionable shape / That I will speak to thee. I’ll call thee Hamlet, / King, father, royal Dane. Oh answer me” (Shakespeare, 132). This particular quote shows how the information comes from the ghost first. Horatio and Hamlet beckon the ghost and tell it to share the events, which start the need to avenge Hamlet’s father. The same approach is seen with “Oedipus,” in which he asks the seer to give advice about his father’s death. The seer is able to tell the turn of events before they have occurred and leads to an understanding that the death is one which was least expected within the family. Punishing the Guilty The last concept which is associated with both plays is through the ideal of punishment and justice of those who are guilty. This begins with the desire to have revenge and to justify what has happened. The punishment of the guilty changes from defining what is right to becoming one of seeking to rectify what has happened, showing a type of desire to what has occurred (Grella, 5). Even though the beginning is based on justifying what has happened and leading to what is right, the fiction also shows a culture of revenge leading to an ending that can’t be justified. The individuals responsible for the murder are tortured through psychological and physical means; however, this is followed by others who are innocent suffering (Rezpka, 5). In both Hamlet and Oedipus this is seen as many are killed in the cross fire while others are psychologically punished from the outcome. Both Hamlet and Oedipus show this particular approach with trying to find justice and leading into both psychological and physical means of punishment. In Hamlet, this leads to the punishment being psychological first, specifically through the play which shows the uncle as the murder. This is followed by the murder of the uncle and others who were involved with both the murder and finding out about the death. A similar punishment occurs with Oedipus as he moves through the psychological realization of his father’s death, followed by taking his own eyes out as a punishment. The justice, while not taking the same violence as Hamlet, still shows the same ideal of punishment. “Native residents of Thebes, consider Oedipus, / one who solved the famous riddle, mightiest of men. / Everyone who looked on him was jealous of his fate. / What a flood of grim misfortune overwhelms him now! / Thus we learn how necessary seeing the final day / is for judging mortals blest. Otherwise refrain. / Happiness means ending life without being crushed by pain” (Sophocoles, 89). This quote shows how the punishment is defined by the pain which Oedipus is destined to live with as well as his inability to function within society or in a role of leadership as his punishment. The psychological and physical pain which comes as a result is the main problem which is a part of the punishment. Conclusion The concept of working as a detective within literature is one which shows specific patterns and ideologies. When looking at both Shakespeare and Sophocles, it can be seen that there is a direct relationship to the patterns of finding the murderer of each case as well as building an understanding of finding information about the murder. The information not only comes from evidence but is an accumulation of gossip, the supernatural and surrounding information to prove the murder. This leads to the punishment of the guilty, which ends in mental and physical punishments as well as death for vengeance. Works Cited Grella, G. “Murder and Manners: The Formal Detective Novel.” A Forum on Fiction 62 (7), 1990. Lipton, JD. “Moral Rights and Supernatural Fiction.” Media and Entertainment 15 (8), 2010. Porter, Dennis. The Pursuit of Crime: Art and Ideology in Detective Fiction. Yale University Press; New Haven, 1981. Rezpka, CJ. Detective Fiction. Routledge: New York, 2005. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Cambridge University Press: UK, 2000. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. University of Wisconsin Press: Wisconsin, 2005. Read More