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William Shakespeare was not only one of the most well known playwrights of all time, he made one of the biggest impacts on literature of all time. To this day, many works of literature are based upon Shakespeare's themes and have many similarities in characters and storylines. As an example, many of the situations presented to the main character in Hamlet, are also presented in George Orwell’s 1984, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
In 1984, Winston is the first character we meet who lives in a society under one ruling power, Big Brother, controlling everyone, and everything. Winston struggles to find his place in this world, and slowly tries to find a way to break the status quo. Hamlet also faces a similar problem, in living in a society where his uncle is in charge of everything. The ruling power in this play, is Claudius, who like Big Brother will stop at nothing to obtain the power he desires, even if that means killing his own brother. Big Brother has brought war, hunger and poverty to what was once London. Both Winston and Hamlet try to break out and change both of their societies for the better, but are faced with many challenges. One of the biggest obstacles for both characters, are the forbidden love interests. Winston tries to find an ally in O’Brien to take down the party, and Hamlet has Horatio to help him reveal Claudius’s sins. Both characters live in societies which must be “fixed” and find themselves trying to be the hero trying to make their worlds “right” again.
Hamlet Final: WIKI
There are also many similarities between Hamlet, and The Great Gatsby. The novel is narrated by Nick Caraway, which right away is seen as Gatsby’s sidekick, just as Horatio to Hamlet. Jay Gatsby can be seen as Hamlet, coming back to correct the society he views to have many flaws. From the beginning Gatsby and Daisy had a forbidden relationship, she was rich, he was poor. In that time, rich did not marry poor. In Hamlet’s time, he falls in love with Ophelia which is not much more than a commoner. Although he is a prince, and it is thought a prince would do as he pleases, royalty can only marry royalty. Gatsby comes back to win back the woman of his dreams, Daisy only to be forbidden to be with her. For when he arrives, she has already married another, Tom Buchanan. Gatsby and Daisy break the “moral laws” of the time and have an affair. Hamlet does not care for the rules of marriage and royalty, and has an ongoing relationship with Ophelia. They both go against moral codes, and give into their desires for love. They both do not realize, what these loves really mean for them. For Gatsby, Daisy is a trophy he believe he can win to prove he has “made it” among those with old money. For Hamlet, subconsciously he does not realize that it is not Ophelia he was really searching for, it is a woman like his mother. His mother was taken from him by Claudius, and it left Hamlet feeling insecure. Finding a woman like his mother would make him feel supported, and cared for. Ultimately, he would feel like he had won the battle for his mother against Claudius.
Lord of the Flies has all personalities from Hamlet. However, the one who sticks out the most is Ralph. From the start of the novel he is perhaps the most self righteous boy on the island. Like Hamlet, by the end of the novel he is consumed by anger and has a need for revenge. When the King’s ghost appeared before Hamlet, and revealed to him that he was murdered by his brother, Hamlet’s is consumed with anger and confusion. Jack, who takes on the personality of Claudius by the end kills many of the boys belonging to Ralph’s group, doing anything to be in charge. By the end of Hamlet, the young prince is so blinded by his own anger and guilt he has forgotten about his father completely. He has forgotten the entire reason he set out to accomplish his goal. It isn’t about his father anymore, it all has to do with him, his anger, his betrayal, his feelings. Just like Ralph, and many boys who lose their way on what their real mission is. They’re number one goal should be to survive on the island, but by the end they are so blinded by anger, greed and power they forget what was important.
These three novels are only some examples of Shakespeare's influence on modern literature. All three novels have elements of one controlling power, a forbidden love interest, and an obsession for revenge. Many modern pieces today have elements’ themes, and plotlines shared and inspired by Shakespeare's many brilliant Plays. From tragedy, to comedy he has mastered a way to put human emotion down on paper. From acting, writing, and even evolving the english language Shakespeare has left his mark on history. However, Shakespeare did not only influence many literature pieces of the past, but has possible reshaped the future of writing forever.
Related Links
http://www.auburn.edu/~tuckebr/Site/Analysis.html
http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/shakespeare/hamlet1.html
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=916
http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/balinham.html