Henry Ward Beecher once said that selfishness at the expense of the happiness of others is demonism. This theory states that part of the human condition is being corrupted by self-centeredness. Authors such as William Shakespeare and Tracy Letts have chosen to explore this theory through literary characters who exploit others for their own benefit, due to their self-centeredness. The characters in Hamlet and August: Osage County contribute to their own mental, physical, and social deterioration. One of the most common instigators of a psychological breakdown is a character's desire to relieve emotional pain. In Hamlet, Ophelia experiences the great loss of her beloved father. After speaking with Ophelia, Claudius concludes: O, it is the poison of deep sorrow. This all comes from the death of his father. 4.5.80-81 Later, she immerses herself in a stream and, she chants snatches of old lauds, Like a person incapable of her own distress (IV.vii.202-203) Ophelia is so overwhelmed by the sadness generated by the death of her father, that she goes crazy. This madness is an inner creation built to live in a world that revolves around it. Ophélie then allows herself to decide to commit suicide without considering the consequences. Unlike the conditions in which Ophélie commits suicide, Beverly in August: Osage County, experiences different circumstances, but arrives at the same lamentable conclusion. Beverly makes mistakes, both big and inconsequential, throughout her life. He expresses that he has a significant affinity with Berryman's quote The world is gradually becoming a place where I no longer care to be Prologue 11. Beverly had previously participated in incestuous acts and he "torn himself apart because of this, for this.” .... middle of paper ......te to continue the relationship. Essentially, love can cause an individual to abandon previous social values. The characters in Hamlet and August: Osage County reveal that self-centeredness contributes to mental, physical, and social deterioration. The instigators of self-deterioration may be the desire for emotional relief, the desire to possess, the need for revenge, the pursuit of power, or the desire to be loved. Selfishness is like a disease; this does not differ within individuals and leads to their own demise. Similar findings regarding self-centered acts occur in two extremely different plays. Works Cited1. August: Osage County. Letts, Tracy. Theatrical Communications Group, New York: 2008.2. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Washington Square Press, 1992.