成绩
学号 [1**********]80
从俄狄浦斯王和哈姆莱特看人文主义
的发展
课程名称：古希腊文化
专业名称： 英语
学生姓名： 詹青青
任课教师： 熊杰平
2016年 1 月 10 日
Analysis on the Development of Humanism
from Oedipus Rex and Hamlet
Course: Ancient Greek Civilization
Subject: English Language and Literature Name: Qingqing Zhan
Directed by: Jieping Zhan
January 2016
ABSTRCT
As the representative tragedy of ancient Greece and the Renaissance, Oedipus Rex and Hamlet are two milestones of western drama. With such great works, the authors try to explore the plight of people in their age, showing the conflict between human and fate. From Oedipus to Hamlet, the development of spiritual connotation about humanism is evident.
Key Words: humanism; ancient Greece; Renaissance; fate
Chapter One
Humanism in Oedipus Rex
1.1 Historical Background
The author Sophocles lived in an age when democratic politics was prosperous and he also set foot in politics with advanced democratic thought. He put the value on individual consciousness to his works so that the characters in his works were given the primitive humanistic spirit.
1.2 Analysis on the Drama
The tragedy Oedipus Rex tells a story that happened five thousand years ago, when human civilization was on the initial stage. The sun-god gave an oracle that the king of Thebes Laius would be killed by his son and then his son would marry his mother. So the king abandoned his son after he was born. Then his son became the prince of another city-state. The young prince Oedipus later knew the oracle. Out of protection for his parent and resistance against fate, he chose to leave his home. The drama develops on the basis of this mythology, describing the fierce duel between human will and destiny. Regardless the result whether Oedipus finally got rid of the oracle or not, he brought out the spirit of resistance from the very beginning, trying to get the control of his own life. Since the behavior of facing problem bravely but not escaping from the difficulty equals the affirmation of the strength of human, Oedipus’s trying to change his situation is just the reflection of the great power of individual will, which shows the transformation from the worship for nature to the affirmation of human value and strength.
The society had recognized the ability of human and attached more importance to individual consciousness. Facing the doomed destiny, if Oedipus didn’t believe his own strength, He would not have given up his luxurious life as a prince. Facing the plague, if he didn’t believe his ability, he would not have tried to solve the problem, no matter if it was because his real concern about the citizen. When the truth came out, he could have protected himself using his power as a king or chosen death to suffer less, but he chose to punish himself and living in darkness. All of these are his choice leading by his courage and perseverance. All his struggles are the soundless and powerful confrontation with fate.
However, the drama also shows that he believes oracles and the power of god, from which it is implied that fate is irresistible. The more drastically he fights with fate, the more miserable his failure will be. The only empathetic explanation for the tragedy is that fate is unreasonable. But there is no denying that human will and human ability have been paid much attention to. The ancient Greek didn’t purely hold their reverence for god, but also praise for the value and strength of man. This reflects
the simple humanism.
Driven by the simple humanistic spirit, Oedipus undertook his responsibility of saving his people. As the words “to know yourself” carved in Delphi temple, Oedipus persisted in exploring the truth and his life experience, and then answered for his crime. By struggling against fate and destroying himself, his personality was improved. Socrates said that virtue was knowledge. The humanistic spirit is just reflected in the pursuit of self-knowledge and morality.
Chapter Two
Humanism in Hamlet
2.1 Historical Background
Shakespeare lived in an age when the feudal system began to collapse and the emerging capitalist class began to rise. At that time, the obscurantism thought represented by religious theology began to decline, replaced by the capitalist’s world view represented by individualism. In the background of humanism on the dominant position, he wrote Hamlet to show the battle between humanism and the feudal forces.
2.2 Analysis on the Drama
In Hamlet, human and ghost exist together. The ghost in this drama is Hamlet’s father, who showed up and encouraged Hamlet to take revenge on his brother. It was obvious that the strength of ghost exceeded human. But the ghost had to seek help from human, which indicates that human has greater influence than that of ghost. The age was people-oriented.
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s idealized image. Educated by advanced humanistic thought, Hamlet knows man as the most noble existence. He never looks high or low to anyone. He believes that the world is a glamorous world. “Man is what a great piece of work! Ideals of how noble, how infinite power! Instrumentation and manners are how correct, how good of behavior, how like an angel, on the understanding, how like gods! Cosmic essence, primate of all things!” But after his father died and his mother remarried, he became depressed and cynical. He changed from a innocent prince to a depressed prince in hatred. The twist was so abrupt that he couldn’t receive that terrifying reality. His view of the world had to be turned into gloomy from bright. It was cruel for such an optimistic young man so that he couldn’t changed to be an avenger at once. As a rational man, he couldn’t believe the words of a ghost easily. He had to seek proofs to prove that his uncle was actually a criminal and his revenge was right. By cautious consideration and analysis, he designed a play show to observe his uncle’s expression and reaction. By refined planning for revenge, he decided to fight with evil and save the whole society. He could have gathered the public to reveal the
evil deed of the present king, which was a straight and effective way. But he chose to wait for the proper time when the crime of the criminal was brought out and then he could struck him both physically and mentally.
When his uncle was aware of his motivation, he also began to monitor Hamlet and designed to kill him. The whole situation of revenge and murder had deviated from the request of the ghost. It was completely a battle between man and man. Hamlet was motivated to carry out his plan for revenge by his reason and sense of justice. He pursued an justified society and his relief from hatred in the thought of humanism.
Chapter Three
Development of Humanism
3.1 The Attitude to the Relationship Between Human and God
In ancient Greek humanism, man and god exist in the same space. Man’s life still can be forecast by god. Although man’s strength and value are insisted to be paid more attention to, there is no claim that man should be the absolute controller of the world. But in the humanism of Renaissance period, the status of man has been lifted to the highest position. The knowledge of human’s value has improved a lot. Human beings have the ability of changing or controlling their fate. The position of god is denied and human is regarded as the controller of the world.
3.2 The Attitude to Fate
From Oedipus to Hamlet, it is evident that man has been thinking about fate. The ancient Greek humanism has a pessimistic attitude towards fate. It acknowledges that man can do something to fight against fate. But man finally can’t escape from fate, which is called fatalism. Fate is irresistible. But in the Renaissance, humanism has an optimistic attitudes towards fate. Man can control fate and lead their life to the ideal direction by unremitting efforts. Fate can be defeated by individual will and action. In the process of battle, reason, wisdom and morality are of more and more significance.
Conclusion
From the ancient Greece to the Renaissance, humanism experienced the process of emerging and developing. From awakening in the control of god and nature to getting rid of the shackles of Christian theology, man’s value was explored and man’s position was lifted constantly. But what never changes is that humanistic spirit always encourages human beings to fight against fate, to endeavor to pursue freedom and happiness. Although it could be at the expense of destruction, like Oedipus and Hamlet, the spirit will gain release and eternal freedom. And the creation of man’s value will be enlarged.
Bibliography
马晶洋，2009，“论希腊人文主义与文艺复兴时期人文主义的内在差异”。《文化研究》：2009/09
宋静思，2013，“在必然与或然中毁灭——试析俄狄浦斯与哈姆莱特悲剧性的相异性”。《济宁学院报》：2013/01
孙开香，2011，“古希腊人文主义精神之解析”。《文化纵横》：2011/04 王坚，杨勇坚，2011，“论莎士比亚《哈姆雷特》中的人文主义思想”。《思想战线》：2011/02
周晔，2011，“古典悲剧与近代悲剧之比较——从《俄狄浦斯王》到《哈姆雷特》”。《西安社会科学》：2011/06
成绩
学号 [1**********]80
从俄狄浦斯王和哈姆莱特看人文主义
的发展
课程名称：古希腊文化
专业名称： 英语
学生姓名： 詹青青
任课教师： 熊杰平
2016年 1 月 10 日
Analysis on the Development of Humanism
from Oedipus Rex and Hamlet
Course: Ancient Greek Civilization
Subject: English Language and Literature Name: Qingqing Zhan
Directed by: Jieping Zhan
January 2016
ABSTRCT
As the representative tragedy of ancient Greece and the Renaissance, Oedipus Rex and Hamlet are two milestones of western drama. With such great works, the authors try to explore the plight of people in their age, showing the conflict between human and fate. From Oedipus to Hamlet, the development of spiritual connotation about humanism is evident.
Key Words: humanism; ancient Greece; Renaissance; fate
Chapter One
Humanism in Oedipus Rex
1.1 Historical Background
The author Sophocles lived in an age when democratic politics was prosperous and he also set foot in politics with advanced democratic thought. He put the value on individual consciousness to his works so that the characters in his works were given the primitive humanistic spirit.
1.2 Analysis on the Drama
The tragedy Oedipus Rex tells a story that happened five thousand years ago, when human civilization was on the initial stage. The sun-god gave an oracle that the king of Thebes Laius would be killed by his son and then his son would marry his mother. So the king abandoned his son after he was born. Then his son became the prince of another city-state. The young prince Oedipus later knew the oracle. Out of protection for his parent and resistance against fate, he chose to leave his home. The drama develops on the basis of this mythology, describing the fierce duel between human will and destiny. Regardless the result whether Oedipus finally got rid of the oracle or not, he brought out the spirit of resistance from the very beginning, trying to get the control of his own life. Since the behavior of facing problem bravely but not escaping from the difficulty equals the affirmation of the strength of human, Oedipus’s trying to change his situation is just the reflection of the great power of individual will, which shows the transformation from the worship for nature to the affirmation of human value and strength.
The society had recognized the ability of human and attached more importance to individual consciousness. Facing the doomed destiny, if Oedipus didn’t believe his own strength, He would not have given up his luxurious life as a prince. Facing the plague, if he didn’t believe his ability, he would not have tried to solve the problem, no matter if it was because his real concern about the citizen. When the truth came out, he could have protected himself using his power as a king or chosen death to suffer less, but he chose to punish himself and living in darkness. All of these are his choice leading by his courage and perseverance. All his struggles are the soundless and powerful confrontation with fate.
However, the drama also shows that he believes oracles and the power of god, from which it is implied that fate is irresistible. The more drastically he fights with fate, the more miserable his failure will be. The only empathetic explanation for the tragedy is that fate is unreasonable. But there is no denying that human will and human ability have been paid much attention to. The ancient Greek didn’t purely hold their reverence for god, but also praise for the value and strength of man. This reflects
the simple humanism.
Driven by the simple humanistic spirit, Oedipus undertook his responsibility of saving his people. As the words “to know yourself” carved in Delphi temple, Oedipus persisted in exploring the truth and his life experience, and then answered for his crime. By struggling against fate and destroying himself, his personality was improved. Socrates said that virtue was knowledge. The humanistic spirit is just reflected in the pursuit of self-knowledge and morality.
Chapter Two
Humanism in Hamlet
2.1 Historical Background
Shakespeare lived in an age when the feudal system began to collapse and the emerging capitalist class began to rise. At that time, the obscurantism thought represented by religious theology began to decline, replaced by the capitalist’s world view represented by individualism. In the background of humanism on the dominant position, he wrote Hamlet to show the battle between humanism and the feudal forces.
2.2 Analysis on the Drama
In Hamlet, human and ghost exist together. The ghost in this drama is Hamlet’s father, who showed up and encouraged Hamlet to take revenge on his brother. It was obvious that the strength of ghost exceeded human. But the ghost had to seek help from human, which indicates that human has greater influence than that of ghost. The age was people-oriented.
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s idealized image. Educated by advanced humanistic thought, Hamlet knows man as the most noble existence. He never looks high or low to anyone. He believes that the world is a glamorous world. “Man is what a great piece of work! Ideals of how noble, how infinite power! Instrumentation and manners are how correct, how good of behavior, how like an angel, on the understanding, how like gods! Cosmic essence, primate of all things!” But after his father died and his mother remarried, he became depressed and cynical. He changed from a innocent prince to a depressed prince in hatred. The twist was so abrupt that he couldn’t receive that terrifying reality. His view of the world had to be turned into gloomy from bright. It was cruel for such an optimistic young man so that he couldn’t changed to be an avenger at once. As a rational man, he couldn’t believe the words of a ghost easily. He had to seek proofs to prove that his uncle was actually a criminal and his revenge was right. By cautious consideration and analysis, he designed a play show to observe his uncle’s expression and reaction. By refined planning for revenge, he decided to fight with evil and save the whole society. He could have gathered the public to reveal the
evil deed of the present king, which was a straight and effective way. But he chose to wait for the proper time when the crime of the criminal was brought out and then he could struck him both physically and mentally.
When his uncle was aware of his motivation, he also began to monitor Hamlet and designed to kill him. The whole situation of revenge and murder had deviated from the request of the ghost. It was completely a battle between man and man. Hamlet was motivated to carry out his plan for revenge by his reason and sense of justice. He pursued an justified society and his relief from hatred in the thought of humanism.
Chapter Three
Development of Humanism
3.1 The Attitude to the Relationship Between Human and God
In ancient Greek humanism, man and god exist in the same space. Man’s life still can be forecast by god. Although man’s strength and value are insisted to be paid more attention to, there is no claim that man should be the absolute controller of the world. But in the humanism of Renaissance period, the status of man has been lifted to the highest position. The knowledge of human’s value has improved a lot. Human beings have the ability of changing or controlling their fate. The position of god is denied and human is regarded as the controller of the world.
3.2 The Attitude to Fate
From Oedipus to Hamlet, it is evident that man has been thinking about fate. The ancient Greek humanism has a pessimistic attitude towards fate. It acknowledges that man can do something to fight against fate. But man finally can’t escape from fate, which is called fatalism. Fate is irresistible. But in the Renaissance, humanism has an optimistic attitudes towards fate. Man can control fate and lead their life to the ideal direction by unremitting efforts. Fate can be defeated by individual will and action. In the process of battle, reason, wisdom and morality are of more and more significance.
Conclusion
From the ancient Greece to the Renaissance, humanism experienced the process of emerging and developing. From awakening in the control of god and nature to getting rid of the shackles of Christian theology, man’s value was explored and man’s position was lifted constantly. But what never changes is that humanistic spirit always encourages human beings to fight against fate, to endeavor to pursue freedom and happiness. Although it could be at the expense of destruction, like Oedipus and Hamlet, the spirit will gain release and eternal freedom. And the creation of man’s value will be enlarged.
Bibliography
马晶洋，2009，“论希腊人文主义与文艺复兴时期人文主义的内在差异”。《文化研究》：2009/09
宋静思，2013，“在必然与或然中毁灭——试析俄狄浦斯与哈姆莱特悲剧性的相异性”。《济宁学院报》：2013/01
孙开香，2011，“古希腊人文主义精神之解析”。《文化纵横》：2011/04 王坚，杨勇坚，2011，“论莎士比亚《哈姆雷特》中的人文主义思想”。《思想战线》：2011/02
周晔，2011，“古典悲剧与近代悲剧之比较——从《俄狄浦斯王》到《哈姆雷特》”。《西安社会科学》：2011/06