Wisdom in Dramatic Works

Even a Character Can Do It

        Wisdom is a concept many strive for in their life; it is a highly esteemed concept in our society. The part that society tends to not quite get right is the definition of wisdom. Wisdom is not only knowing information and being able to broadcast it, but applying that knowledge to life in a way that positively affects our world. Wisdom is going beyond factual knowledge to a point that what you do as a person is reflective of that knowledge and so you are showing that you truly understand what you are talking about.         A person who I find to be very wise is my father. He is a salesman and did so well in his job last year that he won an award. I believe his success comes from using the knowledge he knows about his company and their software that he can relate that information to his clients in way that he is able to positively impact his company by making the deal. Wisdom is genuinely achieved when knowledge is applied to life.

        Hamlet has been a very influential play from the time it was debuted until today. It is universally relatable as human kind has always dealt with the struggles of indecisiveness and trying to find identity. The story of Hamlet is wise in the way that when Hamlet is given knowledge that his uncle, the king, killed his late father and that Hamlet needed to get his revenge and take back the thrown, Hamlet eventually finds what he knows to be true and follows it. He takes this knowledge the ghost has given him and just to be sure tests it out with a play for his uncle. Hamlet uses phrases like “Seems, madam! nay it is; I know not 'seems.” when speaking to Gertrude which already shows his inner turmoil about this knowledge given to him and the fact that everything he does he isn’t going out on a limb or acting off of something that “seems” to be the case, but his actions are educated (Shakespeare 1716). When the play gives Hamlet the justification that his uncle is guilty of this heinous crime he is set only on revenge by that point. This is the turning point that makes Hamlet wise. He is given knowledge that he proves to be true and then is going to act upon to better the world in his eyes. “Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat in this distracted globe. Remember thee! Yea, from the table of my memory I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, that youth and observation copied there; and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain” (Shakespeare 1729). Hamlet, at this moment, has devoted himself to seeking out the revenge that will right the wrong done to him and his family. He speaks of clearing his whole mind so that his sole purpose will be the “commandment” given to him by the ghost. Part of Hamlet’s wisdom, although it takes him a while to do something, when he decides to act he does it with full devotion and that is a redeeming quality for him and his wisdom. I want to remember this work especially in this time of my life because I am really working on discovering my identity and my purpose in life and outside influences try to persuade my decision about myself just as happens to Hamlet in this play. He has different circumstances than I hope to have in my life, but the fact that all he does is not on a whimsy, but is well thought out and actions are only made when knowledge is known to be true is very wise which is an attribute I hope to acquire in all that I do.

        Antigone is also a well-known play because of its dealing with the debate between following society’s laws and being true to oneself and one’s beliefs. This has been a reoccurring issue for people throughout the years, whether it’s peer pressure or a power trying to force their values onto a group, many have experienced this struggle in their lifetime. Antigone shows a lot of wisdom as she thinks through this debate with herself and ultimately stands by her beliefs wholeheartedly and has grounds as to her decision. In the beginning of the play, Antigone and her sister Ismene are talking about the different burials for their brothers and how one was shamed by not following the law of their god. Antigone comes to the conclusion, no matter what her sister’s thinks, “I myself will bury him. It will be good to die, so doing. I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me; I shall be a criminal – but a religious one” (Sophocles 2007). In Antigone’s confession here she shows wisdom in the fact that she knows her consequences, but will stop at nothing to do what is right in her (and her god’s) eyes. Even if she is dealt a criminal, she will be somewhat of a sinless sinner. She not only uses her knowledge of the law and her god’s law to notice the strife but makes a decision that she finds to be most wise and acts on her choice to influence the world around her in a way that she believes will benefit. During that time also women were not held to the same standard as men were, so for a women to go against her king was a big deal. Later in the play Ismene confronts Creon and Antigone and tries to take the blame with Antigone so she can as well die with a clean conscience by Antigone replies to Ismene’s request with “Justice will not allow you what you refused and I will have none of your partnership” (Sophocles 2019). Antigone doesn’t make anyone else play along with her choice against the law, which shows a lot of maturity contributing to her wise nature. I want to remember this work because I am a very religious person and often find myself in situations where I have the option to be true to my God or to do something that would not be thought of as right in his eyes. I don’t always think these decisions through or decide to avoid the activity all together but those are not wise decisions. Antigone showed wisdom in her decision making and in her actions thus wise.