Similarities and Differences in Revenge Motifs Between Hamlet and the Orphan of Zhao

Abstract

"The Orphan of Zhao" written by Ji Junxiang who was a playwright in China's Yuan Dynasty and "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare are two very classic literary works in East and the West, both with the theme of "revenge". This article found that the similarities in revenge motif of the two works can be divided into four aspects: central themes 、plot presentation、social background innuendo 、political conspiracy. In the differ - ences in revenge motif, there are obvious differences in three aspects: narrative form 、means of Revenge 、 character portrayal. In-depth research found that the main reason for these similarities and differences is differ- ences in cultural backgrounds.Through this comparative endeavor, we aim not only to highlight the divergent approaches to revenge between Eastern and Western literary traditions but also to deepen our comprehension of the unique characteristics, connotations, and cultural backgrounds inherent in these works. Moreover, this analysis endeavors to serv