Comparison Shakespears plays: King Lear vs. Hamlet

Essay by TinkieUniversity, Bachelor'sB, April 2004

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William Shakespeare is probably the greatest dramatist of England. I think everyone has read one of his great plays or at least has seen one of the movies which are based on Shakespeare's work. In this essay I will compare two of his tragedies 'Hamlet, Prince of Denmark' and 'Tragedy of King Lear'.

King Lear is perhaps Shakespeare's most psychologically dark tragedy. The naive and pitiable Lear with his children, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia present all that is right and wrong with a father's relationship with his children. Lear is used to enjoying absolute power and to being flattered and he does not respond well being disagreed with and challenged. He wants to be treated as a king and to enjoy the title but he doesn't want to fulfill king's obligations of governing for the good of his subjects. At the beginning of the play his values are notably hollow; he prioritizes the appearance of love over actual devotion.

Nevertheless, he inspires loyalty in subjects such as Gloucester, Kent, Cordelia, and Edgar, all of whom risk their lives for him. The tragedy illustrates the complete chaos which reigns in a state not governed by a strong ruler. Shakespeare constructed King Lear on an old folk story which exists in many countries and versions for example our version 'Gold over salt' which has same plot but ending of a fairy tale.

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's most popular works. This is the tragedy of suffering and hesitation of an honest man who is not able to kill or punish without having a clear proof of guilt.

Both of these books are tragedies, in both books there is quarrel going on within the royal family and in both the quarrel is between the children and their parents or relatives. Hamlet...