Hamlet's Tragic Flaw

Hamlet has a tragic flaw which obstructs his desire for revenge and ultimately brings about his death. This fault makes him a tragic hero, a character who is demolished because of a major flaw, as his death at the end could perhaps have been escaped were it not for his tragic flaw. Hamlet's flaw of uncertainty on how to act or advance, is exposed when Hamlet sees a play and the desire the actors had, after Hamlet's third monologue, in Hamlet's fourth monologue, and in Hamlet's indecisive hunt in avenging his father's death. First, Hamlet's flaw of uncertainty is shown when he sees a play and the passion one certain actor had. A set of players has arrived and Hamlet arranges a personal viewing of The Murder of Gonzago with a small share of

Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, and his military have passed by Hamlet and his companions. Hamlet sees the act that Fortinbras was taking in combat and then examines Fortinbras's efforts and courage in an attempt to rekindle his own wish for revenge against Claudius for his father's death. Hamlet notes how everything around him tries to "spur my dull revenge", yet he takes no action. He notices how he contemplates "too precisely" and that he owns "cause, and will, and power, and means" to get revenge and how the proof pointing to Claudius as his father's murderer is as obvious as earth itself. Hamlet lastly decides "my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!" He has at last decided he needs take action against Claudius in some form. Last, Hamlet's indecisive chase in avenging his father's death is shown as evidence of his tragic flaw. Hamlet encounters many opportunities to kill Claudius, yet he always comes up with some reason preventing action. After first hearing of the wrongdoing from his father's ghost, Hamlet instantly sets out to take action. Hamlet then began to think that maybe his father's ghost was invented by the devil in an attempt to make Hamlet become foolish and kill Claudius, who might happen to be guiltless, which would damn his soul forever. Hamlet then schemes to determine Claudius's responsibility through the play. Claudius views the play and gets very uncomfortable with the

Hamlet was able to avenge his father's passing, but his own demise due to his indecisiveness brands him as a tragic hero. The Tragedy of Hamlet masterfully displays how the failure to act, however honorable the purposes, can be harmful to