Comparing Macbeth And Oedipus The King

Characters are a crucial element to any play because they are agents that commit actions that make up the plot, thus one cannot have a play without them. Shakespeare wrote “Macbeth” with similar characters from the play “Oedipus Rex”. For example, Macbeth and Oedipus the King are both tragic heroes that do harsh things to people but realize it at the end. In both of these written plays they contain a tragic hero that learns from his own fate and sufferings and gains a deeper understanding of empathy with other people. They accept the consequences of their doings. Even in their downfall they present an image of strength of character and memory of courage, virtue even glory. Sophocles and Shakespeare wrote these plays to teach a simple lesson. Oedipus and Macbeth are both men that pa lot of power but are not capable of keeping it.

Conflicts, such as man versus nature, man versus man, and man versus self, are used in these plays. Both plays teach a valuable lesson. Oedipus and Macbeth are kings who take a challenge that can define their future due to inadequacies within themselves. However, with the major difference that one act willingly and with full responsibility for his deed and the other fails because of admiration but mostly because of destiny. Both Oedipus and Macbeth were confronted and destroyed by a set of circumstances, Oedipus by fate and Macbeth by the witches and their prophecies. Originally, both become kings by reacting to what supernatural forces tell to them. If the supernatural forces had never influenced the two, the tragedy would not have taken its