The Protagonist as Victim in Oedipus the King and Hamlet...

The Protagonist as Victim in Oedipus the King and Hamlet In Sophocles Oedipus the King and William Shakespeares Hamlet, the unruly forces surrounding the protagonists are the source for their downfall. Fate, women, and divine intervention are the foundation for the protagonists demise. The protagonists are powerless against these elements, and for that reason, are not responsible for their finish. The uncontrollable force of fate is one component that assists in destroying Oedipus. Oedipus cannot improve his situation because of fate and realizes this when he declares, But I count myself the son of Good Chance, the giver of success-I shall not be dishonored. This statement illustrates how powerless Oedipus is†¦show more content†¦No. I came, know-nothing Oedipus, I stopped the Sphinx! Divine intervention destroys Oedipus by choosing him to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus becomes extremely proud and his hubris causes him to ignore all the warnings he receives not to solve the riddle of who killed his father. In Shakespeares Hamlet, it is fates fault that the protagonist has to avenge the death of his father. Hamlet realizes that fate is responsible for his predicament as he exclaims, O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right! Hamlets statement shows that he has no choice in the matter of being the `chosen one, so to speak, to punish his uncle for the murder of his father, or for the fact that he is his fathers son, making it his duty to seek revenge on behalf of his slain parent. Fate is accountable for all of this. Ophelia has a vital part in Hamlets defeat. Hamlet is in love with Ophelia while he is attempting to feign insanity. He strives to let Ophelia in on his little secret as he presents her with riddles in the form of a love letter. Hamlets love and desire to protect this woman is evident when he says, Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go. Hamlet wants to protect Ophelia from all of the evil events that may occur when he is plotting against his uncle, Claudius. Hamlets hastiness causes the spies to catch on to hisShow MoreRelatedExamining the Tragic Protagonists of Oedipus Rex and Hamlet657 Words   |  3 Pagescan be defined as the downfall of a protagonist through some fatal error or misjudgment, producing suffering and insight on the part of the main character and arousing pity and fear on the part of the audience. Of all the characteristics of tragedy, one is most important: the tragic hero must be essentially adm irable and good. In both the common tragedies, â€Å"Oedipus Rex† and â€Å"Hamlet†, both main characters are generally good. 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