William Shakespeare's Hamlet is most certainly a tragedy of tragedies. In this masterful piece of literature Shakespeare heaps calamity upon calamity on the stories main protagonist, Hamlet. Not only to Hamlet do these saddening things happen but also to most of the other characters of the story. The tragic nature of this story can obviously be seen in many ways. The main aspects of this work which reveal its nature would be the death of those close to the main character, the hero's tragic flaw, and the final catastrophe which ends the story.
Throughout Hamlet the protagonist loses many of those dear to him. In fact, the cause of this story is the death of Hamlet's own father. Along with Hamlet's aforementioned father the deaths would include Hamlet's lover, Ophelia; his mother (her death being both figurative and literal); Laertes; Claudius; and Polonius. Death is a constant theme of this tragedy and Hamlet even takes time to ponder his death and fate in a graveyard. "Here hung the lips that I have kissed I know not how oft - Where be you gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs?" Hamlet says, talking about the skull of the Jester he found.(Hamlet 5.1.164) In the beginning of the story it is revealed to Hamlet that his father was murdered by none other but Hamlet's uncle and new father-in-law, Claudius. This murder is the catalyst for the story and greatly upset Hamlet even before he knew his father was actually betrayed. Hamlet mourned his father long after everyone else had moved on. The fact that Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, married Claudius not long after the death of the former king also caused a bitterness in Hamlet. He criticizes his mother by saying she's like a depraved animal. "O God, a beast that wants disco...
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... the end of the story. In the end Horatio is the only person left to tell the story of Hamlet and why these events transpired. "If thou didst ever hold me in they heart absent thee from felicity a while, and in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain to tell my story," Hamlet begs of Horatio before he dies.(5.2.344)
The tragic elements of Hamlet are evident in the deaths of his loved ones, his tragic flaw, and the final catastrophe ending the story. Hamlet is an incredible drama, tying together romance, revenge, incest, and action. This story has continued to live on through the ages and has made multiple appearances in movies. Shakespeare was truly a master of story-telling and his tales have been forever immortalized as he always wanted.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Switched-On Schoolhouse. Chandler, AZ: Alpha Omega Publications, 2001.
William Shakespeare was a Stratford Grammar School boy, who was a member of the Church of England, similar to just about everyone else in Stratford. However, due to some events that occurred in the Shakespeare family home, there is some evidence that could prove that the family may have had some Roman Catholic connections. When William Shakespeare was 10 years old, legal issues and debt took a toll on his family’s life. Shakespeare’s father’s stopped attending alderman meetings which resulted in the removal of his name to become an alderman, and he was also forced to sell his beautiful home. The cause of this crisis is unknown, however the records can be used to throw together the idea that there were peculiar religious events going on (Fox). Due to these mishaps, William Shakespeare’s religion is a bit of a mystery. The play, Hamlet, was written by William Shakespeare during the Elizabethan era, which happened to be a time when religious conflicts were a big deal (Alsaif). The protagonist in the story, Hamlet, is a character who seems to make his choices through his religious beliefs. Hamlet is a very indecisive person, but his thoughts on religion tend to persuade him. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the character of Hamlet to show the flaws in all religions. Hamlet does his best to follow the rules of Christianity, but he often questions the morality involved. Although Shakespeare belonged to the Church of England, he didn’t find any particular religion to be perfect.
Hamlet. The son of a king. A man who could have had it all, but instead he chose the much more painful route of revenge and a life of bloodshed. The downfall of Hamlet is comparable to trying to hide a lie one has told. The deeper we try to cover the lie, the worse it gets and harder it becomes to do the right thing. The deeper the reader explores into Hamlets life, the messier and messier it becomes. With a mind full of suicidal thoughts and insanity with no effort to contain it can only lead one thing, and Hamlets downfall is the ultimate example. Pain, suffering, and extreme
Beginning with the Greeks, tragedy has been an essential form of entertainment. Although it has changed slightly over time due to different religious and social values, it is still written and performed to this day. Perhaps the most well known tragedy of all time is Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet is perhaps the epitome of all tragedy. Not only does the tragic hero Hamlet meet his demise, but all the main characters in the play at some point due to some flaw in their character, or some fatal decision, also meet the same fate. It is because of their character flaw and/or their fatal decision at some time during the play that their death can be justified.
Hamlet has a strong love for his parents and is hurt to see them either die, or fall into the scheme of Old Hamlet’s brother-in-law. Without love in our lives, we would feel almost neglected by the world. After Hamlet’s father dies, he desires his father’s love and comfort that he is unable to get. He turns to his mother after his father’s death and is turned away by her because she has other things to focus on rather than the grieving of Hamlet. Hamlet feels hurt by his mother’s actions and is jealous that she appears to love Claudius and not her own son.
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous work of tragedy. Throughout the play the title character, Hamlet, tends to seek revenge for his father’s death. Shakespeare achieved his work in Hamlet through his brilliant depiction of the hero’s struggle with two opposing forces that hunt Hamlet throughout the play: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father’s murder. When Hamlet sets his mind to revenge his fathers’ death, he is faced with many challenges that delay him from committing murder to his uncle Claudius, who killed Hamlets’ father, the former king. During this delay, he harms others with his actions by acting irrationally, threatening Gertrude, his mother, and by killing Polonius which led into the madness and death of Ophelia. Hamlet ends up deceiving everyone around him, and also himself, by putting on a mask of insanity. In spite of the fact that Hamlet attempts to act morally in order to kill his uncle, he delays his revenge of his fathers’ death, harming others by his irritating actions. Despite Hamlets’ decisive character, he comes to a point where he realizes his tragic limits.
Everyone has lied at one point or another in their life. Whether it is a small white lie about an outfit’s mishaps or something that ruined a relationship, lying or hiding the truth is a universal theme that everyone could relate to. In Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the theme of deception to develop characters and cause their ultimate downfall in the play. Deception is not only woven in the plot but also portrays through the characters’ action and personality, such as Claudius, Polonius, and Hamlet.
Hamlet’s soliloquy is surely one of the great dramatic monologues in world literature. It is as well known as any in the Shakespearean canon and a favorite selection for memorization. The Prince’s meditation transcends the personal. Much of what he says is applicable to all mankind. The speech, coming as it does at the midpoint of the entire action, poses many critical problems. In view of the widely contrasting interpretations of this speech, it would be naïve to ignore the difficulties of interpretation.
Horatio’s minor role is vital to the story of Hamlet. He does not add anything to the plot of the play and instead acts as the voice of common sense. Horatio is an outside observer to the madness that ensues after the murder of King Hamlet. All of Hamlet’s soliloquies revolve around irrational speculations about death and decay. However, Hamlet’s conversation with Horatio ground the play in reality. In those conversations, Hamlet reveals his feelings to his closest friend. Horatio is the only one Hamlet can come talk to about what is going on in his life.
Hamlet loved his father the way that any child does. A part of him and his life was taken from him when he heard of his father’s death. Instead of spending time with her son like she should have been, Gertrude was spending more time with her quickly married husband, Claudius. This quick marriage to Claudius made Hamlet wonder if his father had just died, or if he was murdered. If his father was murdered, his mother must have known about the murder, or she would not have married Claudius so quickly. Gertrude was absent in Hamlets life too often, which turned him to acting like he was crazy.
As the play’s tragic hero, Hamlet exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. A complex character, he displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play’s development. When he is first introduced in Act I- Scene 2, one sees Hamlet as a sensitive young prince who is mourning the death of his father, the King. In addition, his mother’s immediate marriage to his uncle has left him in even greater despair. Mixed in with this immense sense of grief, are obvious feelings of anger and frustration. The combination of these emotions leaves one feeling sympathetic to Hamlet; he becomes a very “human” character. One sees from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun.
At the beginning, he is in a high position and held in high esteem by the people. By the end, he had fallen to the depths of despair. Aristotle tells us that plot is the "soul of tragedy," and he points out that we see this through an imitation of life through realistic actions. Taking risks and thinking big characterizes narration in tragedy. Hamlet exemplifies these characteristics throughout the storyline.
... to Horatio is not a thank you or I love you. He tells him to stay here to tell my story. People need to know my story. What kind of friend is that? Horatio was a part of Hamlets plot all along. Hamlet never truly cared about him. He just wanted someone to be able to tell his story in the end.
Shakespeare's time period and individuals of today alike were, and still very much intrigued by many aspects of the play. Shakespeare was able to miraculously capture the audience, despite the common folk’s ignorance. The play is often referred to as The Tragedy of Hamlet. And while Hamlet does exhibit some characteristics of a tragic hero he lacks the most fundamental of all; a tragic flaw and the element of free choice.
Well, Hamlet certainly has an unhappy ending, but there are still so many more key components that determine what tragedy is. A sad ending is not the only factor in composing a tragedy. This definition may seem straightforward, but is inherently intricate. Since tragedy has many different meanings and uses, it is simple to see how a character’s vulnerable and tragic journey is exploited in a tragedy. From these definitions, it is apparent that in order for a hero’s journey to be tragic, there must be a tragic flaw. Hamlet follows the tragic journey of an abandoned hero who is riddled with flaws, and one who seeks truth, justice, and revenge.
Hamlet’s wit and play of words deceits everyone. He seems to be philosophical and existential being with a certain interest to the meaning of life. Many may see him as the tragic hero fighting against a superior force. This image of a tragic hero seems to be just a façade. Although there can be many reason why he may be seem as a tragic hero he is corrupted by those around him making him evil.