Hamlet Tragic Hero Essay

By definition, a tragedy is “a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character”. A Shakespearean tragedy incorporates a main character, known as the tragic hero, whom is flawed in some way; by this they are led to their own demise. In order to create a full tragic effect, the tragic hero must be one in which the audience feels great sympathy toward. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, is put through a number of situations which are not necessarily his own fault nor improvable. Through Shakespeare’s characterization of Hamlet, he creates someone in which his audience can feel great sympathy for based on events in the play, Hamlet’s reaction to said

The other characters in the play are very insensitive toward Hamlets’ fathers’ death. Hamlet is alone in his grieving; thus, creating his first situation of isolation. Gertrude callously remarks that “all that lives must die” as a means to comfort Hamlet but, does quite the opposite (I.ii.72). Hamlet is hurt by this remark because he cared deeply for his father and believes that everyone else should as well; although, that is not the case. The feeling of being alone is a relatable quality most readers of the play will pick up. People whom Hamlet considered his friends, Rosencratz and Guildenstern in particular, betray him. Instead of being a friend to Hamlet, the aforementioned become spies for King Cladius and ultimately enemies of Hamlet. The audience of the play may be able to relate to the anger associated with being betrayed by someone whom was thought to be a friend. When Hamlet becomes aware that Guildenstern and Rosencratz are delivering a letter to the King of England that advises “[Hamlet’s] head should be struck off”, Hamlet refers to his ex-friends as “bugs and goblins in [his] life” (V.ii.21-24.). Hamlet is outraged and changes the letter to ask “that on the view and knowing of [the letters] contents” the bearers of the letter should be “put to sudden death” (V.ii.44-46). Hamlet no longer concerns himself with the outcomes of others lives because of the events he has been faced with. Hamlet isolates himself so that he may no longer be harmed by any other character in the play. Naturally, people take themselves away from the people that ae harming them. In Hamlet’s case, he is harmed by nearly everyone in the play with or without his knowledge. Shakespeare has meant for his audience to understand that because of Hamlet’s isolation a great deal of his sufferings are caused, making yet another thing the audience can be sympathetic