Hamlet's Tragic Hero

654 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet characterisation

A tragic hero is defined as a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities that is destined for downfall. The topic about whether Hamlet is a tragic hero or not has been an argumentative topic for years. Critics of the belief claim that Hamlet was not killed by a tragic flaw. However, I believe Hamlet portrays all of the characteristics of being a tragic hero and is killed because of his error in judgment. Because William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet as a tragedy, Hamlet is a tragic hero.

The first characteristic a tragic hero must possess is a character of noble stature and possess greatness. They must occupy a "high" status position and exemplify nobility and virtue as part of their natural character (quizlet.com). …show more content…

In Hamlet’s hunt for revenge, his inability to follow through and act is Hamlet’s tragic flaw (quizlet.com). Because Hamlet overthinks everything, this causes him to procrastinate. Theoretically, Hamlet is more than willing to accept the duty of getting revenge for his father. Hamlet promises to prove his love to his father and do his given duty. After hearing the story of the murder, he plans revenge: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift, As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge" (Shakespeare, trans. 1987 1.5.29-31). However, Hamlet can not carry out with this. When Hamlet has a chance to kill Claudius when he is kneeled down praying, Hamlet deters from murdering Claudius because he believes he will be sent to Heaven. Hamlet not only wants to murder Claudius, he also wants Claudius to suffer in Hell. He begins to feel guilty about not avenging his father’s death …show more content…

It finally becomes clear to Hamlet that he must avenge his murdered father and his mother who has remarried and forgot about her first husband (shmoop.com). At this time, Laertes also wants revenge on Hamlet for his father. He returns immediately and declares revenge on Hamlet. With the help of Claudius, the two devise a plan to have a “friendly duel”. However, in this duel they plan on killing Hamlet with a poisoned sword or a poisoned drink. Hamlet agrees to the duel. During the duel, the two’s swords get mixed up. Laertes and Hamlet have both been stabbed by the poisoned sword.Alongside this, Gertrude has mistakenly drank out of the poisoned cup. She realizes what has happened and announces that she has been poisoned. Laertes confesses what he has done and tells Hamlet that death is near for both of them. This exemplifies the third characteristic for tragic heroes. The hero's downfall is partially his own fault, and thus the result of free choice, not of accident or villainy or some overriding, evil fate. In fact, the tragedy is usually triggered by some error in judgment or some character flaw that contributes to the hero's lack of perfection

Show More
Related

  • Gladiator Tragic Hero Essay

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    When it comes to being a tragic hero the character has to have the qualities of being a tragic hero. A tragic hero is where the main character of a tragedy whose fatal flaw leads to his or her destruction. Either the character was born into society as a great man or a slave, they may have carry

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Tragic Hero

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    A tragic hero is a character born of noble birth who shows great qualities but has a major downfall due to their tragic flaws. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, both Romeo and Juliet have tragic flaws. Though Romeo shows clear signs of tragic flaws, Juliet Capulet is the tragic hero because she meets the characteristics perfectly.

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Mccandless As A Tragic Hero

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    A tragic hero is an individual who possesses a fatal flaw in their character that will bring about their own destruction or suffering. Aristotle believed that “A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall. (Aristotle #1)” This Ancient Greek philosopher also believed that each tragic hero has four characteristics. The first of these characteristics is that a tragic hero is born with either wisdom or high integrity, and in some cases both.

    Read More

  • Realism In Gatsby And Hamlet

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    The vengeance of his father 's death is the prime cause of Hamlet 's obsession with perfection, his tendencies of over thinking philosophically, and idealistically, are what cause Hamlet 's delay. Hamlet is exposed to multiple opportunities to take the murderer of his father, Claudius ' life, the most notable being when Hamlet stumbles upon Claudius alone, praying; when about to act Hamlet says "When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed, at gaming, swearing or about some act that has no relish of salvation in 't: then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven and that his soul may be as damn 'd and black as hell, whereto it goes"(3.3.90-96) This inability to act when the chance is given exclaims how Hamlet is not willing to send Claudius to heaven and he will only act if he is to arrive in hell, which will in turn fulfill his need for the perfect

    Read More

  • A Tragic Hero

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    A tragic hero is defined as a person of high social rank, who has a tragic flaw or flaws that lead to their downfall. These heroes’ downfalls are usually either complete ruin or death. Tragic heroes face their downfall with courage and dignity. While many characters in Julius Caesar could fit these conditions, the person who fits the role of a tragic hero the best is Marcus Brutus. Brutus develops into a tragic hero throughout the play, and this is shown though his qualifications of a tragic hero, his high status, his tragic flaws, and his courage in the face of his death.

    Read More

  • Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    By definition, a tragic hero is a protagonist that due to some tragic flaw loses everything he has. Throughout history, literature has always been filled with main characters possessing some tragic flaw. In Macbeth, Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his enormous ambition to become king. In Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his need for revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh’s tragic flaw is his need to be remembered. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Beowulf also has a tragic flaw, excessive pride and the search for fame, which ultimately leads to his demise.

    Read More

  • How Does Hamlet Try To Kill Claudius

    1190 Words  | 3 Pages

    Why does hamlet delay so much in avenging his father’s murderer? Is there a part of him that really doesn’t want to take revenge? These are questions readers may come up with after reading and analyzing the play. Hamlet is a play built on a long tragedy between many characters. This tragedy starts with the main character Princess Hamlet and his Uncle Claudius. Claudius is the antagonist in this play and starts all of the drama. Claudius is the reason why hamlet is trying to seek revenge. Other characters are trying to seek revenge throughout the entirety of the play also. Shakespeare in the play Hamlet, is trying to make this a play on revenge between many characters and also show the insecurities of Hamlet as he tries to seek revenge.

    Read More

  • Why Hamlet is a Tragic Hero and the Play a Classic Tragedy

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Well Kylie, a tragedy is usually a story of one person, with both the hero victims in the play usually of a high standing of society. This is especially the case in “Hamlet”, with his victims being King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonious, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, all being linked to the Royal Family of Denmark. A personality fault (the tragic flaw) causes the hero to act in a manner which brings about his own misfortune and eventually death, during which he lets the audience know he is dying by delivering a final speech. In “Hamlet”, it is his tragic flaw of his indecisiveness and inability to act, which brings his own suffering and misfortune. Had he been able to kill King Claudius in the beginning none of the suffering would have occurred. He also delivers his final speech telling the audience of his death, “I am dead Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu!” he exclaims after being poisoned by Laertes envenomed rapier.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Indecisiveness In Hamlet

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet has evidently shown in the play how his uncertainty in his decisions slows him down in killing Claudius. His indecisiveness makes spend more time thinking about the situation and the possible outcomes. In act 2 scene, Hamlet has yet to fulfil his promise to his father. Hamlet is holding himself back from avenging his father. Hamlet refuses to act as if he knows what he is doing when in reality, he has not found out whether the act of killing is heroic and moral or cowardly and immoral. “O vengeance! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must, like a who 're, unpack my heart with words and fall a-cursing like a very drab, a scullion! Fie upon’t, for!” (2.2 579-585). Despite all this, instead of taking revenge immediately, Hamlet wants to find out whether his ghostly father is telling the truth. This takes a while as Hamlet would eventually realize it is true later in the play. Hamlet had a so much time to kill King Claudius but it is his uncertainty of his father 's words that delays the revenge. Later in act 3 scene 3, King Claudius is seen kneeling in prayer as he confesses his sins.

    Read More

  • Essay On Macbeth A Tragic Hero

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    In order for a character to be a tragic hero, they must not be an angel nor a devil; he should have some virtues, a tragic flaw and suffering as a result of the tragic flaw. Macbeth is initially depicted as a character of greatness and dignity through appraisals but is then haunted by a fatal flaw – his vaulting ambition and lust for power ultimately leads to his demise. Macbeth meets all of the requirements and can therefore be called a tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    Webster’s dictionary defines tragedy as, “a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.”  A tragic hero, therefore, is the character who experiences such a conflict and suffers catastrophically as a result of his choices and related actions.  The character of Hamlet, therefore, is a clear representation of Shakespeare’s tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Hamlet, The Protagonist

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    As often associated with a tragedy, a conflict usually ensues between a protagonist and another force in the play. A tragedy is ‘a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that elicits pity or terror’ (Webster's dictionary). Given its structure and depth in characterization, this play will or can be analyzed and interpreted from various perspectives and beliefs. However, my analysis of the play is conducted on the basis of various components which are: Hamlet as a tragic hero, the ironic message conveyed in the play, the roles of its characters, the role and personification of madness, the role of paranormality, the role of friends and family, the role of inaction, the role of sex and violence, and the role of death as portrayed in the play. Based on literary definitions and portrayal of his character, there is popular belief that Hamlet as the protagonist acted to satisfy his own conscience but could his actions be attributed purely to his desire or was he being influenced by other factors?

    Read More

  • Hamlet as the Tragic Hero

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is the best known tragedy in literature today. Here, Shakespeare exposes Hamlet’s flaws as a heroic character. The tragedy in this play is the result of the main character’s unrealistic ideals and his inability to overcome his weakness of indecisiveness. This fatal attribute led to the death of several people which included his mother and the King of Denmark. Although he is described as being a brave and intelligent person, his tendency to procrastinate prevented him from acting on his father’s murder, his mother’s marriage, and his uncle’s ascension to the throne.

    Read More

  • Justice In Hamlet

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, the audience is presented with the dramatic story of Prince Hamlet’s task to avenge the murder of his father (King Hamlet) through retribution towards the perpetrator, his uncle Claudius. However, even though the need to bring Claudius to justice is the central aspect of the play, it is not until Act 3, Scene 3 where Hamlet finally encounters his first opportunity to execute this duty. As Claudius kneels in prayer, Hamlet enters fully prepared to act upon his desire for vengeance, especially now that he is certain of Claudius’ guilt after watching The Mousetrap. Except, rather than immediately taking advantage of this perfect opportunity, Hamlet decides to not kill Claudius

    Read More

  • Hamlet: A Tragic Hero

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    The tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most popular and greatest tragedy, presents his genius as a playwright and includes many numbers of themes and literary techniques. In all tragedies, the main character, called a tragic hero, suffers and usually dies at the end. Prince Hamlet is a model example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Every tragedy must have a tragic hero. A tragic hero must own many good traits, but has a flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. If not for this tragic flaw, the hero would be able to survive at the end of the play. A tragic hero must have free will and also have the characteristics of being brave and noble. In addition, the audience must feel some sympathy for the tragic hero.

    Read More

More about Hamlet's Tragic Hero

Open Document