The aim of this research paper is to explore, by comparing and contrasting them, the two literary characters Hamlet and Oblomov and how they are exploited by William Shakespeare and Ivan Goncharov in different historical ages to project different visions of the human situation. Every author is influenced by his age to certain degrees and if the art of characterisation of William Shakespeare is set against that of Ivan Goncharov, it is because of the difference in ideological perspectives. William Shakespeare’s character Hamlet comes from Renaissance England and Ivan Goncharov’s character Oblomov comes from nineteenth century Russia. The former is in certain ways different from the latter despite the fact that some traits of both characters are the same, such as indecision and procrastination.
The comparison and contrast will be highlighted in this paper in terms of Marxist hermeneutics, which is a scientific theory and method of analysing the social and literary types in the context of class milieu. Applying Marxist literary hermeneutics to the art of characterisation of both the authors, the present study tries to introduce new portrait and reevaluation of the personages of the two literary types in an innovative perspective.
Table of Contents
Research Objectives
Research Questions
Significance and Scope of Research
Research Methodology
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Comparison between Hamlet and Oblomov
4. Hamlet and Oblomov are Gentle Men
5. Hamlet’s Relation with Ophelia
6. Oblomov’s Relation with Olga
7. Hamlet and Oblomov as Superfluous Heroes
8. Hamlet and Oblomov as Representatives of Transition Periods
9. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research aims to compare the literary characters Hamlet and Oblomov through the lens of Marxist hermeneutics, exploring how their indecisiveness and sluggishness are products of specific historical and socio-economic conditions. The study seeks to investigate why these characters, emerging from eras of transition between feudalism and capitalism, embody a shared sense of irresolution that determines their tragic fates.
- The application of Marxist hermeneutics to compare literary types across different historical epochs.
- The identification of indecision and sluggishness as characteristic traits of the feudal class during periods of transition.
- An analysis of the role of social formations and ideological state apparatuses in shaping character identity.
- A comparative examination of Hamlet and Oblomov as manifestations of the "superfluous hero" archetype.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Comparison between Hamlet and Oblomov
William Shakespeare produced a literary type in the personality of Hamlet, which has become immortal and universal character in world literature. That is why Hamlet is one of the most discussed of William Shakespeare’s characters. The prince Hamlet grows up, confident in his privileged status in the royal court. He is well aware of his role in the given formation.
The story of “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” concerns a young man, Hamlet, son of the late King of Demark with a ghost of his dead father, who talks only to him and instructs him to commit a revenge of his murder. Hamlet nevertheless finds himself increasingly affected by the circumstances, in which he encounters the crisis of state, and though he gradually experiences the sudden death of his father and incestuous marriage of his mother with his uncle. Marcellus’s phrase in the opening act reveals that dark suspicions of rottenness in the state of Denmark as follows:
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Shakespeare, William, 2005, Act 1, Scene IV, 67).
The reason of the rottenness of the feudal State of Denmark is not moral but decline of old feudalism and emergence of capitalism. This transitory historical epoch begins to break up the old feudal order and establish the capitalist institutions instead. Hamlet was written in this age of transition that called the Renaissance period, which was a transitory period from feudalism to capitalism in Europe.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the importance of characterization and typicality in literature, framing the study within the historical and social contexts that produce memorable literary figures.
2. Literature Review: Surveys existing critical debates surrounding Hamlet and Oblomov, highlighting their roles as indecisive figures and the various psychoanalytical and Marxist interpretations applied to them.
3. Comparison between Hamlet and Oblomov: Examines the socio-economic backgrounds of both characters, linking their existential crises to the decline of feudalism and the rise of capitalist structures.
4. Hamlet and Oblomov are Gentle Men: Analyzes the temperament and moral disposition of both characters, noting their inherent honesty and sensitivity in contrast to the corrupt environments they inhabit.
5. Hamlet’s Relation with Ophelia: Explores Hamlet’s indecision through the prism of his failed romantic relationship and his inability to reconcile personal love with his perceived duty.
6. Oblomov’s Relation with Olga: Focuses on Oblomov's attempt at personal transformation through his relationship with Olga and his ultimate inability to escape his nature.
7. Hamlet and Oblomov as Superfluous Heroes: Contextualizes both characters within the "superfluous man" archetype, identifying common traits of ineffectual, idle intellectuals caught in stagnant social orders.
8. Hamlet and Oblomov as Representatives of Transition Periods: Investigates how these figures represent the confusion and conflict inherent in historical periods of transition from old to new social formations.
9. Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings, reaffirming that the characters’ indecision is a byproduct of class-based social formations rooted in private property.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, Ivan Goncharov, Hamlet, Oblomov, Marxist hermeneutics, Sluggishness, Procrastination, Indecision, Superfluous heroes, Hamletism, Oblomovism, Feudalism, Capitalism, Social formation, Literary criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on a comparative analysis of the literary characters Hamlet and Oblomov, investigating the root causes of their shared traits of indecision and sluggishness using Marxist hermeneutics.
What are the central themes explored?
Central themes include the impact of socio-economic change on character identity, the role of ideological structures, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, and the archetype of the superfluous hero.
What is the ultimate research goal?
The goal is to prove that the indecisiveness and sluggishness of these characters are not merely psychological flaws, but products of feudal class structures that become obsolete in the face of new social formations.
Which scientific method is applied?
The study employs a narrative research approach using descriptive-cum-analytical methods, including content analysis and library-based comparative literary theory.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers individual analyses of both characters, their relationships with others, their roles as superfluous men, and their position as representatives of their respective historical transition periods.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Marxist hermeneutics, Hamlet, Oblomov, indecision, procrastination, superfluous heroes, feudalism, and social formation.
How does the author define the "superfluous man" in this context?
The author defines the superfluous man as an ineffectual, dreamy, and useless intellectual who finds himself at odds with his social formation and incapable of finding purpose.
What role does the "dressing-gown" play for Oblomov?
The dressing-gown is presented as a symbolic garment representing Oblomov's lethargy, his Easternness, and his rejection of the practical demands of the modern, capitalist world.
How does Shakespeare's "rot in Denmark" relate to the economic thesis?
The author interprets the "rottenness" not as a moral decay, but as a socio-economic symptom of the decline of feudalism and the emergence of capitalist institutions in Renaissance England.
What is the significance of the comparisons to Lenin's "What is to be Done?"
The comparisons serve to highlight how the "Oblomov syndrome" was viewed by revolutionary leaders as a remnant of feudal inertia that required total removal for the advancement of the Socialist social formation.
- Quote paper
- Assistant Professor Javed Akhtar (Author), 2017, Comparison between Hamlet and Oblomov, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354353
