A Comparison between Hamlet and The Wars

The writers of Hamlet and The Wars, William Shakespeare and Timothy Findley respectively, transform their main characters from the expected war hero or powerful prince into that of an antihero. William Shakespeare presents Hamlet as a prince bent on revenge but unwilling to do it. Timothy Findley, on the other hand, sends Robert Ross off to war in hopes that he will finally make something of himself. Hamlet is the prince of Denmark, a state …

…Robert Ross leaves for war when the loss of his sister and the pressures of his dysfunctional family become too much such a weak, sympathetic character. Whenever the pressure rises for the hero to take charge and lead the way to peace and unity, Hamlet and Robert help pave the way to chaos and disruption. Nothing good comes from such antiheroes, so to assume the two are tragic heroes or brave heroes is plainly absurd.