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