Unique but Common
Books
Hamlet by Williams
Shakespeare
Middlesex by Jeffery
Eugenides
Common Techniques to
readers
The
appearance
of old
Hamlet
The
primum
mobile
The role of
Claudius
Before any evil can establish itself in
Hamlet’s mind, there must be a basis
for this evil for readers to search.
Details of the basis in
Hamlet
- Does not allow
Hamlet to resume his
studies in Wittenberg.
Old
Hamlet’s
ghost
The role of
- Receives the
command to murder
Claudius.
- All the attention
concerning evil to him.
Claudius
Details of the basis in
Middlesex
Basic
A complex
point of
Explanation
view
- The narrator Knowing
all the events and the
emotions of the family.
-The ancestors' feelings -The narrator is looking
are explained.
back in time.
The reader can explore the developing relationships,
which is much more interesting to address the theme of
gender confusion and the effects on the family from a
scientific point of view.
The narrator does not leave any character out or
plots appearing , so that the reader may understand
the development of the main character from the
basic explanation.
Symbols Appearance.
“Allusion”=Symbols in
Hamlet
Impact
Hamlet (Author)

The derivative of his guilt.(In
Christian tradition)

Hamlet is given the chance to
literally destroy the initial
sin.

Later on, Claudius admits that he
has killed Old Hamlet.

The super evil reveals himself. .
Shakespeare has laid the perfect
cover for Hamlet in these two
hints to Claudius’ guilt
Hamlet (Readers)

The audience has two
clear pictures of the
literary foils: Claudius
as the evil one, Hamlet
as the good one. Having
laid out a cover, the
evil has not forgotten
its real purpose. Hamlet
must now begin to let his
potential control his
actions and in order to
do so, he must understand
his role.
Symbols
Mythological allusions
Objects
Impacts
Middlesex
Objects
Desdemona’s
silkworm box.
A new breed of
silkworms
Giving up
the
worms
Mythological
allusions
Calliope' name itself
The Greek
goddess of epic
poetry.
Playing the role
of Tiresias
The author’s irony
Filling
itself
The symbols make the reader
attentive to the meaning of the work
itself. They also help to characterize
Calliope, by adding self-awareness to
her mind that will ultimately lead to
her decision to live as a man.
(Eugenides 439) Apart from
underlining the story, the symbols
make Calliope’s situation more
understandable. It seems more
natural after being put in an
acceptable context. Furthermore,
the allusions are proof that
intersexuality is part of history. The
symbols show once again the
appropriate style that Eugenides
applies in his novel.
Levels Set Up..............
-.Hamlet
-.Middlesex
Levels' comparison.
Hamlet
The evil part of Hamlet

Searching for the evil part of
Hamlet’s mind.
The feeling towards comfort
and peace.

Pursuing comfort in order
to live a good life

The finding of comfort for
Calliope does not give her
the same feeling.



Middlesex
Not a state that is present
from the beginning of the
play, but a development due
to the dramatic action.
Present and Past levels
Hamlet
Past:
A good foil: fighting for evils
Present:
Evil is taking over his mind
Middlesex
Past:
Searching for comfort and
peace: living with parents.
Present:
Gender confusion
Taking actions
Evil’s spreading to the
environment.
The horrors of working
in the pornographic industry
Seeing the benefits of the
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