Hamlet as a Hero
Definition of the tragic hero:
A tragic hero is a character (often the protagonist) who shows a tragic flaw, also known as fatal flaw, which eventually leads to his or her demise. The concept of the tragic hero was created in ancient Greek tragedy and defined by Aristotle (and others). Usually, this includes the realization of fatal flaw, which results in catharsis or epiphany.
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Hamlet as the Tragic Hero
Certain works evoke a deep self-scrutiny as the hero shares traits common with the reader. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet to achieve such an affect. In Shakespeare’s plays he often uses the tragic hero as a device to shed light onto a variety of different human flaws. Hamlet is no different, as Hamlet's reflective, contemplative nature often renders it impossible for him to act on his convictions, and it is this imbalance between his active and passive natures as a "tragic flaw" that makes his wretched fate inevitable.
Shakespeare's Hamlet was written to make the reader think for himself and create what he thinks to be Hamlet’s tragic flaw. Any argument could be well supported or demolished on quotes and actions from the text and one's interpretation of these. Hamlet's tragic flaw is his inconsistent approach to problems. In the scenarios that may call for quick, decisive behavior, Hamlet ruminates. An example of this is seen in Act III, iii when Hamlet has his knife over the head of Claudius, prepared to murder him, and he talks himself out of it. Another example of this is the play put on by Hamlet in Act III, ii when he wants to have proof of his father's murder by Claudius. In reality, all Hamlet needs to do is act on the ghost's words.
Likewise, in those scenarios that require thorough contemplation, Hamlet is impulsive. An example of this is seen when hears a "rat" listening in on his dialogue with his mother in Act III, iv. Without the necessary thought, Hamlet draws his sword and kills Polonius. Another example to support this premise is in Act I, iv when Hamlet threatens his friends and follows the potentially dangerous ghost into the forest without any contemplation. Again, the imbalance of rational thought and action is proven.
The contention that Hamlet's tragic flaw is external can be disproved in Act III, iii when Hamlet has his knife drawn and is only a swift motion away from Claudius' death. Hamlet's tragic flaw is not that he is motivated by ambition but that he lacks the ability to differentiate situations requiring contemplation and those in which quick reaction is needed. This point is best displayed in Act II, ii when Hamlet states "Man delights not me"(II, ii 359). "Man", in this case, refers to the power structure imposed by society.
Hamlet suffers not from external difficulties nor does his motivation revolve around personal ambition. He is a confused young man, suited more to the classroom or laboratory than on the stage of political intrigue. Hamlet suffers from irrational outbursts, emotional degradation and his ever-precarious grip on sanity. Coupled with his fatal imbalance of contemplation and action, his fate is all but inevitable.
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Hamlet: Shakespeare Tragic Hero
In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the main character is a classic
example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Hamlet is considered to be a
tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw that in the end, is the cause of
his downfall. The play is an example of a Shakespearean tragic play
because it has all of the characteristics of the tragic play. As defined
by Aristotle, a tragic play has a beginning, middle, and end; unity of time
and place; a tragic hero; and the concept of catharsis.
One of the main reasons this play is considered a tragic play is
because the main character is a tragic hero. Hamlet's tragic flaw is he
spends too much time thinking and not enough time acting. This is the
opposite of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, in which the tragic hero spends
too much time acting, and not enough time thinking. Hamlet dwells too much
on whether or not to act on something, and by the time he decides to act,
it is too late. When Hamlet finally decides to kill Claudius, he sees him
praying and decides to wait longer. The next time he gets a chance to kill
Claudius he takes it, but by then it was too late. Hamlet was killed as
well. He could have prevented his downfall if it wasn't for his tragic
flaw.
Another reason Hamlet is a classic example of Shakespearean tragedy
is because it incorporates the idea of catharsis. Aristotle defined
catharsis as the purging of the emotions of fear and pity. In the play,
Claudius has the emotion of fear because he is afraid of Hamlet knowing
that he killed his father. Claudius knows that Hamlet is capable of
killing him. He knows that he cannot kill Hamlet to protect himself or to
prevent the people from knowing who killed the king because the people love
Hamlet too much. Claudius feels pity after he sees the "Mouse Trap"
because he realizes what he had done was wrong now that Hamlet knows the
truth behind the matter.
Hamlet is a tragic play because it has a beginning, middle, and end,
and takes place in a short period of time. The play has a specific
beginning, which consists of Hamlet seeing his father and considering what
to do about it. The middle is one of the actions that he took, the "Mouse
Trap." This set the course for the end, which was when the whole ending
fencing scene takes place, when Hamlet and most of the other main
characters die. The play took place in a short period of time and moved
consistently without too many breaks in time.
This is a tragic play because it contains all of the
characteristics of the classic tragic play. It takes place over a short
Collected by Safwat Hannouf
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