Comparative Analysis Of The Protagonists’Characters And The Tragic Causes Between Hamlet And Gadfly

Hamlet is one of the most important works which stands for the highest achievement of Shakespeare’s tragic comedies. Since its publication, this play has been discussed and studied from different angles. Gadfly has been created by Voynich, Ethel Lilian, who is an Ireland writer. Gadfly is her creative masterpiece.It is known that Shakespeare and Voynich lived in different eras, and experienced different lives. Their works are different in themes and styles. In Hamlet, when Hamlet knows that his father was murdered and his mother remarried, he becomes melancholy, and decides to take his revenge and shoulders the mission of changing Denmark’s destiny. Gadfly tells a story about Arthur which is a sincere Christian. However, he becomes a revolutionary against Austria’s domination after a series of accidents. Both protagonists are influenced by Humanism and Christianity. Sadly, both of them die in the end. Guided by Tragedy, Christian doctrines, Western Culture, Humanism and Neo-humanism, this thesis first describes the similarities and differences of their characters, and then analyzes the tragic causes why they are both killed. Meanwhile this thesis probes into the advancement of Humanism and the relationship between Humanism and Christianity.This thesis compares the two protagonists’ characters and tries to find out what causes their death in hope of helping readers to understand the implied meanings of the two works and the authors’views. Further studies and discussion will be made in the future.