How Is Hamlet Similar

Characters in different popular literature novels and plays can be compared and contrasted in many different ways. The purpose of this is to further understand both characters’ views and intentions in their texts. This will also highlight how both characters are similar or different and identify what makes them similar or different. The reader can also learn lessons from each character from what they did wrong and right. Hamlet from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet and Oskar from Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel Extremely Loud Incredibly Close can be compared in their journeys and the outcome of their journey. Oskar and Hamlet both have set goals they want to reach and have a choice to take the safe route of their journey to reach their goal or the dangerous …show more content…
His relationships with these people allow the audience to visualize his mental and emotional state and understand his actions. Once Hamlet found out that his father was murdered by Claudius, the good relationships he has starts to fall apart. Hamlet tries to find peace for his father’s death and he thinks avenging his death will help him. The first relationship that fell apart was with his mother Gertrude and it is demonstrated when he says “I will speak daggers to her but use none, my tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.” (3.2.???). This demonstrates Hamlet’s hatred for Gertrude. Hamlet was willing to go and hurt his own mother’s feelings, and in the play, Gertrude is seen as very fragile and vulnerable so he knew that his mother would not be able to bear his insults. Hamlet is so obsessed about getting revenge for his father’s death, he does not even realize that he is hurting other people. Also he does not let anything or anyone get in his way. This is shown when he says, “Why, man, they did make love to this employment. They are not near my conscience. Their defeat doe by their own insinuation grow.” (5.2.???). Hamlet lets his anger get the best of him. He was willing to kill is two best friends, just because they were working with Claudius. Hamlet has broken other relationships in the play as well such as his relationship with Ophelia and Laertes. He was trying to find the truth …show more content…
Hamlet and Oskar both had relationships, while Hamlet was breaking the relationships he had, Oskar was strengthening his relationship with his mother and late father, and creating new relationships. Both Oskar and Hamlet had a set goal for their journey. They both wanted to get something at the end of their journey, however they are completely different personalities. Oskar’ goal was to learn more about his father and try to find a reason as to why he died, whereas for Hamlet, all he wanted to do his find his father’s murderer and avenge him, therefore leading him to a very dangerous path. The outcome of Oskar and Hamlet’s journey were different because the path they chose were the opposite. Oskar chose to take the good path and Hamlet chose to take the dangerous path. Oskar eventually finds what he was looking for, but he did not get the answer he was looking for, however, he chose to accept his father’s death and move on with his life. Hamlet on the other hand ended up getting the entire royal family killed, including himself, due to his rage and anger of his father’s murder. Clearly, both characters in each text took a similar journey. They both went through scenarios where they are forced to choose their paths. Hamlet ends up destroying his life, where as to Oskar ends up growing and creating new relationships and bring him closer to his father. Comparing characters in literature is great