Are Hamlet and Oedipus the King dramas of conscience or dramas of consciousness - Essay Example

Hamlet and Oedipus the King as dramas of Consciousness In my opinion, Hamlet and Oedipus the King are actually dramas of consciousness. Oedipus and Prince Hamlet who are the protagonists in these dramas are confronted by tough situations. They are in a dilemma that requires a proper decision to handle. However, they do not have full control over their decisions because they are subject to the strong power of fate. On his part, Oedipus can not come to his conscience and right senses to know the right action to take whenever there is a need to do so.

Therefore, he acts blindly without knowing that he does not have power to determine how to respond to the circumstances in which he found himself. It is for this reason that Tiresia tells him, ‘So, you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this. You with your precious eyes, youre blind to the corruption of your life, to the house you live in, those you live with-who are your parents? Do you know?’ (Dawe 17). For example, while in the jungle, he challenges a stranger into a dwell before eventually killing him.

He was not aware that it was King Laius his biological father whom he had not spared.On the other hand, Prince Hamlet also finds himself in the same situation. Although he knows about the tragic death of his father, he loses control over himself especially after being confused by the ghost who claims to be telling him the truth. It is from this point that the prince loses his senses and can no longer think and make his own decisions (Winstanley 29). So, when confronted with challenges, he does not face them as a man, but attempts to show strange reactions.

When he decides to resort to all weird manners as he hunts for his uncle whom he believes was responsible for the death of his father and all the troubles facing his family, this is evident. May be, this justifies the statement, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (Act I Scene IV). As the play unfolds, readers discover that it reaches a point when the Prince can not make rational decisions. At one point, he becomes mad and stages comedies that are aimed at trapping his perceived enemy.

Because of this, he can not listen to counsel from anyone including his own mother. In conclusion, Oedipus the King and Hamlet are great tragedies that depict a typical dilemma in the life of the protagonists. As powerful characters, everyone expects Oedipus and Prince Hamlet to be independent in their thoughts. However, this does not happen as the two protagonists get engulfed in the world of fate and supernatural control. Whereas Oedipus is blind, his counterpart Prince Hamlet is mad. These are unfortunate situations that put them in a great dilemma than a normal human being who out to use their conscience should not find themselves into.

Works CitedDawe, R.D. (ed.) Sophocles: Oedipus Rex, revised edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.Winstanley, Lilian. Hamlet and the Scottish Succession, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print.