A Comparison of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex Ess

Interpretations of Tragedy in crossroads, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex For ages, man has pondered upon the root of destiny. Is the outcome of a mans life determined by human qualities and failings, the tampering of a divine power, or simple fate? Shakespeares settlement make the argument that tragedy is caused by human folly. The idea that divine discourse is at the root of human suffering is put forth in the Book of Job. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, fate is given as the root of mans suffering. terzetto divergent perspectives on the origins of calamity exist within the tragedies Hamlet, Job, and Oedipus Rex. Shakespeares Hamlet enforce the idea that Human suffering is a result of human faults. Hamlet possesses extreme indecisiveness, only if at times exhibits dangerous heedlessness. Both set up to his ultimate destruction. The majority of the play consisted of Hamlet deciding when, where, and how to kill Claudius, the murderer of his father. When Claudius is al one praying, Hamlet had the perfect chance to avenge his murdered father, but he inflexible to postpone the act. Up, sword, and know thou a more than horrid hent. / When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage (Hamlet III.iii.88-89). If Hamlet had simply slew Claudius at that juncture, the situation would have never mixed the story would have been over. Such innocents as Hamlets mother, Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia would have never met tragic ends. Although Hamlet possessed the fault of indecisiveness, at times, he exhibited a recklessness that led to suffering. When Hamlet was in his mothers room he heard a rustling behind a tapestry that he presumed was Claudius. He decided to kill the man behind the curtain without checking to make sure th... ... hap is a matter of fate that cannot be changed by any mortal(a) actions. All provide a valuable insight into one of lifes great quandaries the root of tragedy. Works Cited Green, Joel B., & Longman, Tremper (Eds.). Holy Bible -- The Everday Study Edition. Dallas Word Publishing. 1996. Shakespeare, William. The pertly Cambridge Shakespeare Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Philip Edwards. Cambridge Cambridge U P, 1985. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. An accession to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al. New York Longman, 1997. Works Consulted Fox, robin Lane. The Unauthorized Version Truth and Fiction in the Bible. New York Vintage, 1991. G. K. Chesterton, Introduction to The Book of Job, The Hebrew Bible In Literary Criticism, Ed. and Comp. Alex Preminger and Edward L. Greenstein, (New York Ungar)