The Tragic Hero Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare - 1402 Words

Philosopher Aristotle said â€Å"the change of fortune presented must not be the spectacle of a virtuous man brought from prosperity to adversity. From Aristotle’s â€Å"Poetics,† he suggested that a hero must evoke in the audience a sense of fear and pity. In many ways, Hamlet is the quintessential tragic hero. Like the classical tragic hero, Hamlet begins with the noblest motivations, to punish his father’s murderer, but he does not survive to see the full outcome of his actions. Hamlet’s tragic flaw as well as his extensive knowledge, causes him to think through everything before acting, effectively stopping him from being decisive, and bringing about his necessary tragic ending. Hamlet’s deep connection with knowledge causes him to base his perceptions of reality on his interpretation and understanding of the world, and he allows himself to become obsessed with the meaning of his life and revenge of his father’s death. By contemplating death, ruining his love of Ophelia, and his obsession with exposing Claudius, Hamlet’s cloudy judgment and inability to take decisive action characterizes him as a tragic hero. Shakespeare reveals Hamlet’s tragic flaw when Hamlet begins to question his role in life, in the famous â€Å"to be or not to be† soliloquy. Nonetheless, Hamlet cannot kill himself because of his tragic flaw within the depths of his mind and his obsession with revenge against Claudius. Throughout the speech, it is obvious that Hamlet is over thinking and wavering between twoShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Hero Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1252 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle claims that a tragic hero is a protagonist who evokes pity in its audience and has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall. They must also be virtues and noble or of some importance. Like many of Shakespeare’s protagonist Hamlet is regarded by many as a tragic hero. They place him in the ranks of characters like Othello, Romeo and Antony. However, even though Hamlet shares many similarities with these characters and possess many of the attributes outlined by Aristotle, heRead Mor eThe Tragic Hero Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1094 Words   |  5 Pagesmen do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones† (Shakespeare). Often times, a pure heart will rot in the grave and then their sins will be what remains to stain their images. I believe this is the case for the young Prince Hamlet, a tragic hero he was, it appears that many readers forget what Hamlet was trying to achieve. In conclusion, I believe that readers do not recognize the champion that Hamlet was, Hamlet is a victorious protagonist that avenged his father, and with his revengeRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1254 Words   |  6 PagesThat makes the tragic hero a character who experiences conflict and suffers as a result of his choices and actions. Hamlet suffers both private and public, and makes choices that lead to his destruction. Therefore he is a clear representation of Shakespeare’s tragic hero. Hamlet, the play’s tragic hero, exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. He is a complex character and displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play. When introduced in Act, Scene 2, we see Hamlet as a sensitiveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet As A Tragic Hero1251 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Hamlet himself is commonly known as a tragic hero in the play. He knows he possesses the flaw of indecision but cannot overcome it, and this is a weakness that eventually causes his downfall. Therefore, this paper will discuss his own fate by examining some of his characteristics. Different people have their own understanding towards Hamlet. As a tragic hero, some think he is young, brave and thoughtful; some think he is conscientious, becauseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - The Aristotelian Tragic Hero1529 Words   |  7 Pagesplay, Hamlet, centers around Hamlet’s contemplation of killing his uncle in order to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet’s decisions and values come into play in determining his fate. However, Hamlet’s intended action to avenge his father’s death, rather his motivation, falls short due to his moral dilemma. Overall, Hamlet’s actions and values work together to create a connection between Hamlet’s state of mind and the condition of Denmark as well as, epitomize him as an Aristotelian tragic hero. At theRead MoreEssay about Greek Tragedy Exemplified in Shakespeares Hamlet1191 Words   |  5 PagesGreek Tragedy Exemplified in Shakespeares Hamlet For several thousands of years, drama has existed among mankind. The ancient Greeks are accredited with the creation of drama, which began as simple religious rituals and eventually evolved into the more complex forms of tragedies and comedies. The first rules of drama, not surprisingly, were also written by a Greek--the famous philosopher and intellectual, Aristotle. Aristotle took note of the what qualities created a successful dramatic pieceRead MoreHamlet, Prince of Denmark825 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, Prince of Denmark By William Shakespeare Submitted by: Tariq Khan Dated: Monday, 24th September, 2012 Hamlet as a Tragedy by William Shakespeare 1.1. Brief Introduction to Tragedy: Greek and English: Elizabethan tragedy is traced back to Greek tragedy, since Greeks are said to have pioneered the Western knowledge, be it Science, Arts, or Humanities—not necessarily Technology. The rich contribution of Greek dramatists like Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus and AristophanesRead More Shakespeares Macbeth and Hamlet as Tragic Heroes Essay893 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth and Hamlet as Tragic Heroes      Ã‚   William Shakespeare has written many literary works - from his sonnets to his plays, each has its own individual characteristics.   One popular characteristic that comes from his plays is the tragic hero.   The audience can always relate to the tragic hero and the many trials he faces.   Macbeth and Hamlet are just two of Shakespeares plays that involve the tragic hero.   Through their nobility, tragic flaws, and dignity Macbeth and Hamlet prove to beRead MoreHamlet As A Tragic Hero850 Words   |  4 Pagesas a hero if they revenge? Well In the novel Hamlet the author, William Shakespeare creates tragic events where his main character Hamlet has to overcome to achieve his goal of killing his evil uncle Claudius. â€Å"In life one has to do bad thing in order to be a hero,the hero also has to make sacrifices in order to be successful† (John Barrowman). In Shakespeare Hamlet, should hamlet be considered a tragic hero judging by him following the hero steps. S hakespeare proves that Hamlet was a tragic heroRead More The Tragic Hero of Hamlet Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tragic Hero of Hamlet    Shakespeares play, Hamlet illustrates the tragedy of a young princes pursuit to obtain revenge for a corrupt act, the murder of his father.  Ã‚   As the exposition unfolds, we find Prince Hamlet struggling with internal conflict over who and what was behind his fathers death.   His struggle continues as he awaits the mystic appearance of a ghost who is reported to resemble his father.   Suddenly it appears, proclaiming, Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing / To

With whom does responsibility for the Holocaust ultimately lie Free Essays

The Holocaust was a shameful display of the exploitation of power to cause great pain and suffering to many. An operation of that magnitude could not have been controlled and implemented by one individual. There are many parties which were involved with Germany and need to be considered when determining where ultimate responsibility lies. We will write a custom essay sample on With whom does responsibility for the Holocaust ultimately lie? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Hitler did as early as 1935 make his feelings about the Jewish race clear by making his anti-Semitism public policy in the Nuremburg Race laws. But aside from in â€Å"Mein Kampf†, Hitler made little indication until the last minute that he had given approval for the extermination program, ( even Mein Kampf is not that reliable, because it was written by a young man imprisoned for his beliefs, and he was bound to exaggerate to get his message across and to raise sales profits ). He seems to have kept out of the actual planning and implementation of the killing process, leaving that in the more than capable hands of the Nazi officials, including Himmler, Frank and Heydrich. Many of the ideas such as Ghettos and mass transportation were left under their control, for them to act on their own innitiative. Although he was seen by the public as heavily involved with politics and decision making for Germany, it has since been revealed that Hitler spent a large part of his day relaxing at home, and was often happy to sign papers after only a brief glance. After the virulence shown in â€Å"Operation Barbarossa† towards the Russian Jews, Hitler in speeches tried to convince the public that a good solution had been found to ‘the jewish problem’ and should be continued throughout the rest of Europe, hiding the intensity of the mass genocide going on in the country next door to them. He also reffered to the transits as ‘resettlements’ for â€Å"appropriate labour duties†, which made the program seem more civilised. Amongst the Nazi leaders, talk was rarely directly about the actual business of the â€Å"final solution† agenda, reffering as Hitler did to program as of â€Å"legalised removal† and â€Å"resettlement†. But it was reported at the trial of Eichmann in 1960 that within private meetings the â€Å"talk was of killing, elimination and liquidation†. Obviously the top officials like Himmler and Heydrich didn’t want to give the public the impression that they were intently malicious, but it is clear that they did not have reservations about ordering the police, Wehrmacht and S. S. to carry out there instructions. Himmler was able to directly comit the 800 000 strong S. S. to the tasks of operating the death camps, and so needed no other authority. Most of them believed that they were just doing their duty for Germany and could contently do their tasks without moral objections. Other leaders like Goebbels were passionately anti-semitic and outright about it, but Goebbels with all of his propaganda experience probably conveyed it tactfully. At the Nuremburg trials, many leaders tried to claim ignorance of the program however preposterous that may seem after looking at the evidence, but there is little actual proof of their actions, so there is not much firm indication to support the claims of their responsibility. The earlier T-4 ( euthanasia program ) had been in effect a development program for the search for efficient means of large and refined killings. Some officials such as Bouhler and Brack had been largely involved with T-4 and were able to pass on their extensive knowledge, and implement it in death camps like Treblinka and Belzec. T-4 also demonstrated that mass killings could be carried out by ordinary individuals without hesitation. Having said this, it would be eminently hard to prove that anyone involved with T-4 could have known that their methods would be used to wipeout a race, a process significantly larger and more important (to them) than what they were originally doing. The German army and police were undoubtedly involved to some extent in the program because of the logistics of the operation, but it would be unfair to try to blame them entirely for what they were doing. Some tried to keep a clear conscience by thinking of their victims as â€Å"not men but monkeys in human form†. But on the whole they were just following their orders and doing their jobs. A lot of the German people had, before Hitler came to power in 1933, been Anti-Semitic in varying degrees. Hitler only had to play on their feelings, making his policies reflect what the people wanted to hear. High ranking people, in the civil service, Army and churches, were among the Anti-Semitic thinkers. Prostestants in Germany had for a long time been Anti-Semitic since the time of Martin Luther and the Reformation in Europe. Some policies were frowned upon and met limited opposition, the Catholic church against euthanasia for example, but the actual ‘Holocaust’ was affected very little by public protest. The public were often made aware of what was happening to the Jews by allied radio broadcasts, leaflet drops and stories brought home by soldiers who had been on the Russian front. But to many these were just rumours and not taken seriously. Everyone involved with the holocaust was each partly to blame. Hitler was the driving force behind most Nazi policies, but not many were his own. He was blamed by the German people, to forget their own responsibility. Himmler and Heydrich came up with and implemented many plans themselves, and were valuable to Hitler to keep his regime going. There was not enough opposition to earlier programs such as T-4 to stem the violence then, and it spiralled out of control. General public opinion, and even whole national organisations opinions, were too well established in their dislike of Jews to be changed even by mass violence. If it had been changed against Hitler’s regime, there would not have been sufficient power to do what the regime achieved. How to cite With whom does responsibility for the Holocaust ultimately lie?, Papers

Meaning of Work free essay sample

Doing â€Å"work good† means being an outstanding employee and going above and beyond to do your job. The problem is that sometimes the two contradict each other. This seems to be the underlying issue in Lynda Workman’s passage, â€Å"The Experience of Policy,† where she is torn between following the policy of her job and doing what she knows in her heart is right. In Barbara Garson’s passage, â€Å"McDonalds-We Do It All for You,† she interviews McDonalds employees to get insight on what it’s like to work at McDonalds and how it feels to know that in their eyes: no matter who you are, you are replaceable. These two passages are very similar to each other. McDonalds doesn’t want their employees to think, only to follow the procedures, just as Workman is forced to follow policy, not to do what she knows is right. I am fortunate to have had the same job at a family restaurant called Bravo Cafe for the past 3 years. However, I’ve also had experiences working at other jobs over the years. I have been in almost the same situations as these McDonalds employees and Workman and it was because of this I realized what doing â€Å"good work† and doing â€Å"work good† means to me. In March of 2011 I became an employee of Sonic Drive-In. Over the course of the 5 months I worked there I never liked it. This was the first job I had ever worked besides Bravo. Even though I loved my job there I was dying to do something different. At first it was really tough being the â€Å"new person† again, but I figured that once I got everything down I would be treated with more respect. However, I quickly learned that this wasn’t the case. My managers were strictly business, and like McDonalds, they made it clear that if you ever chose to quit you could easily be replaced. I hated being treated this way and as time went on I became more and more careless about my performance as an employee at Sonic and doing â€Å"work good. † In all my time at Bravo I’ve never performed my job carelessly. I have always been reliable, hardworking and go above and beyond my job description. Before working at Sonic I assumed that being a hard worker had more to do with my personality than the job itself, but instead I learned that wasn’t the case. I realized that the uplifting and welcoming environment of Bravo and knowing that they valued me as an employee motivated me to be a hard worker and to do â€Å"work good,† in return. However, the stressful and negative environment at Sonic made me miserable and careless about my job. Many people don’t see the relationship between work environment and work performance, but I have experienced it firsthand. If employers show their employees that they value them and their work, employees will only be more determined to prove themselves. You don’t have to know how to cook; you don’t have to know how to think. There’s a procedure for everything and you just follow the procedures (251),’ says Jason, a former McDonalds employee that Garson interviewed for her passage. Jason explains that you don’t need any experience to work at McDonalds. You just follow the procedures your taught. McDonalds is run like more of a factory than a restaurant. Th ey don’t want people; they want robots. As Garson interviews more employees and former employees of McDonalds she realizes that Jason was absolutely right. Not only did McDonalds know that they could easily replace their employees, they made sure their employees knew this as well. If someone had an opinion or did things â€Å"their own way† they were punished rather than appreciated. McDonalds completely runs on technology. The computers do everything, including telling the managers how many employees to schedule. The amount of technology they use gives McDonalds the freedom to hire almost anyone. Even though I don’t think its right for McDonalds to treat their employees with such disregard, I have to say that I understand their mindset. Their business isn’t affected by how they treat their employees in any way, so why does it matter? Workman’s job is quite different than working at a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds or Sonic. As a social worker she knows that how she does her job can have a significant impact on someone else’s life. Workman’s passage focuses mainly on her questions about policy: how is policy defined? How are policies established? Can there be exceptions to a policy? A social workers job is to help people better themselves, but what if a policy prevents them from doing so? There is no right answer to these questions. In her passage Workman tells the story of Dan, a social worker who broke policy by building better houses for his clients, and was fired (Workman 754). Policies are putting social workers in lose-lose situations. It’s as if they’re forced to choose between helping someone who truly needs it and keeping their job. Workman shares a personal experience of her own about an old Indian woman who used to support herself by selling handmade sweaters. Due to her severe arthritis the woman could no longer make sweaters and needed help making ends meet. After a few months of being on welfare the woman sold two sweaters and earned enough money to support herself for that month. According to policy Workman was supposed to take the woman off of welfare, but she didn’t and instead made no record of the old woman’s income increase. It was at that moment that Workman realizes even if she wanted to try to get the policy changed she would put the old woman’s welfare and her own job at stake. Workman’s experience, as well as Dan’s experience, is the perfect example of what it means to do â€Å"good work. † Doing â€Å"good work† and doing â€Å"work good† are two different things and it’s not always easy to balance the two. Sometimes in order to be a good employee you have to go against something you believe is right or you must make the decision to do what’s right and risk losing your job. You wouldn’t think the job of a McDonalds employee and a social worker would have very much in common, but they do. McDonalds employees are to follow procedures, as social workers are to follow the policies. McDonalds employees and Workman were encouraged to do â€Å"work good† and discouraged to worry about doing â€Å"good work† if it affected their job. In my experience at Sonic I learned a lot about the factors that go into doing â€Å"work good† and how it feels not to be appreciated by your employer. If it wasn’t for my job at Bravo I might not know the difference between the two and I may not have known the feeling of being a hard, honorable worker who knew they were appreciated.