Hamlet; Tragic Hero Essay Example
Hamlet; Tragic Hero Essay Example

Hamlet; Tragic Hero Essay Example

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Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Hamlet; The Tragic Hero In many plays there is always one person that is the tragic hero. They always possess some type of tragic flaw that in turn leads to their tragic deaths. In the Shakespearean play Hamlet the main character Hamlet is considered to be a tragic hero. By carefully analyzing the Shakespearean play Hamlet one can debate whether the main character Hamlet is a tragic hero. Although it is debatable whether or not Hamlet is a tragic hero, one would still agree that he is in fact a tragic hero.

Despite what others may believe, there is more evidence to prove that Hamlet is a tragic hero as he displays the flaws of a tragic hero. Hamlet is a very indecisive man who likes to procrastinate a lot. Also, Hamlet is a rash man who does not think before acting.

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As well, Hamlet is also a misogynist man who seems to have a strong dislike for women. A tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. Indecisive is characterized by indecision, as persons; irresolute; undecided.

Rash means characterized by or showing too great haste or lack of consideration: rash promises. Misogynist means hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women. In the Shakespearean play Hamlet the main character Hamlet is considered to be a tragic hero because of his indecisiveness. Hamlet is a very indecisive man who is unable to react quickly to situations and tends to procrastinate very much. Hamlet’s indecisiveness is one of his biggest flaws throughout the play. Hamlet can never seem

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to make up his mind and this really affects him throughout the play.

Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, is murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius; who put poison into King Hamlet’s ear causing his death. In the beginning of the play Hamlet becomes aware of this discovery when his father King Hamlet reappears as a ghost asking Hamlet to avenge his death against Claudius. Hamlet agrees to do what his father asks but every time he gets the chance to kill Claudius he always makes up an excuse not to kill him. In Act 3 scene 2 Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius during the “Mouse Trap Scene Hamlet devises this trap attempting to catch” the conscience of the king during the theatre (III. . 582). The play-within-a-play tells the story of Gonzago, the Duke of Vienna, and his wife, Baptista, who marries his murdering nephew, Lucianus. Hamlet believes that the play is an opportunity to establish a more reliable basis for Claudius’s guilt than the claims of the ghost. Since he has no way of knowing whether to believe a member of the spirit world, he tries to determine whether Claudius is guilty by reading his behaviour for signs of a psychological state of guilt:                                          Ophelia. The king rises. Hamlet. What, frighted with false fire?

Gertrude. How fares my lord? Polonius. Give o’er the play. Claudius. Give me some light. Away! Lords. Lights, lights, lights! William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (III. i. 582). At this point Hamlet knows very well that Claudius is guilty because of his behaviour throughout the play “O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound. ” But even after

Claudius jumps up with excitement Hamlet still does not do anything to him. Hamlet has the perfect moment to avenge his father’s death but sadly he does not. However, luckily Hamlet has another chance to avenge his father’s death.

In Act 3, scene 3 after Claudius storms out of the play he returns to his private chapel to pray because he begins to feel guilty as well he starts to believe that Hamlet might be aware about the death of his father, so he goes to pray. Hamlet then enters the scene and notices Claudius praying, Hamlet knows that this is his chance to kill him because he says “Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying, and now I’ll do’t. ” (III. iii. 73-74). Just when Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to avenge his father’s death he backs down again: Hamlet. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge.

A took my father grossly, full of bread, With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, And how his audits stands who knows save heaven? But in our circumstance and of course of thought ‘Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged To take him in the purging of his soul. When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (III. iii. 73-74). Hamlet feels that if he is to kill Claudius at a time when he is praying then he will go to heaven, and Hamlet does not want that so he decides not to kill him. Hamlet wants Claudius to suffer for what he has done to his father.

But may be Hamlet chose the wrong decision

because when he finally decides to kill Claudius he too suffers as well. In Act 5, scene 2 Laertes, the son of Polonius challenges Hamlet to a dual. Hamlet agrees to the dual because he does not want to be seen as coward even though Horatio, his good friend warns him that it is not a good idea. However, Horatio is completely right because Claudius is trying to have Hamlet killed since he believes that Hamlet has knowledge about his evil deed. Claudius manipulates Laertes into agreeing to do the dual because he says that it will be a good ay to take revenge since Hamlet kills his father Polonius. Claudius convinces Laertes because he tells him that this way it will not look like he wants to murder Hamlet, it will just seem like an accident. So, in order to kill Hamlet Laertes poisons his sword that way if Hamlet gets the littlest scratch on him he will die. Hamlet and Laertes fight and Laertes scratches Hamlet with the sword but Hamlet still kills Laertes however. But before Laertes dies he reveals to Hamlet Claudius’ plot to have him killed. Laertes. It is here Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain,        No medicine in the world can do thee good,

In thee there is not half an hour of life- The treacherous instrument is in thy Unabated and envenomed. The foul practice Hath turned itself on me; lo, here I lie, Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned - I can no more – the king, the king’s to blame. William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (IV. ii. 303-306). Laertes reveals that Claudius is the one to blame for

everything because he is the one that comes up with the idea to kill Hamlet. When Laertes reveals this, Hamlet then takes his chance and kills the king by making him drink the cup of poison juice: “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, drink off the potion.

Is thy union here? Follow my mother. ” (IV. ii. 303-306). Finally, at last Hamlet kills Claudius after being so indecisive throughout the whole play. But sadly it is too late because Hamlet dies as well. In conclusion, one can see how Hamlet’s indecisiveness leads his to his bloody grave. If Hamlet did not wait so long to kill Claudius perhaps he would still be alive. However, Hamlet’s indecisiveness is not his only flaw that leads him to his tragic death; Hamlet’s rash behaviour also plays a big part in his downfall. Hamlet has many tragic flaws; he being so rash is also another flaw that eventually leads him to his tragedy.

Hamlet is a very rash man who does not stop to think about the consequences of his actions. He tends to do things without thinking of what the outcome may be. In Act 3, scene 4 Hamlet goes up to his mothers room to speak with her, and Polonius, a close friend to the royal family Gertrude and Claudius, hides behind the arras to spy on the two to see if Hamlet has indeed gone mad. Polonius is trying to see if Hamlet has gone mad because throughout the play Hamlet does not act like himself so everyone is trying to figure out what he is up to or what is wrong with him.

When Hamlet is speaking to

his mother Gertrude he is very vehemently critical of her, making her fear for her life. Her alarm makes Polonius call for help ending with fatal results. Polonius. (Behind) What ho! Help, help, help! Hamlet. (Draws) How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead. Polonius. (Behind) Oh, I am slain! William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (III. iv. 23-25). Hamlet kills Polonius through the arras thinking that it is Claudius “Nay I know not, is it the king? ” But after Hamlet lifts up the arras he finds out that it is not Claudius but Polonius who he murders.

Though Hamlet has just killed Polonius without knowing it was him, Hamlet shows no remorse what so ever for his bloody deed. He does not think of what the consequences might be instead he just dismisses the dead Polonius as a meddling fool. Hamlet. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fools, farewell. I  took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. Thou find’st to be too busy in some danger. Leave wringing of your hands. William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (III. iv. 31-34). Hamlet calls Polonius a “rash, intruding fool” but Hamlet is really the rash one because he does not think of what may happen now that he has killed Polonius.

He just mocks the dead Polonius instead, saying that he had no reason to be getting involved. However that is true but now Hamlet has gotten himself into a bigger problem with Polonius son Laertes who now wants to avenge his father’s death against Hamlet. Moreover, Hamlet does not only display rash behaviour then, he also shows his rash behaviour when he puts his two friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in harms way.

Hamlet displays his rash behaviour again in Act 4, Scene 7.

After everyone finds out that Hamlet has killed Polonius Claudius starts to fear because he believes that Hamlet killing Polonius was a mistake and he was the one Hamlet wants to kill, so to avoid him getting killed he sends Hamlet to England. While Hamlet is in England at Elsinore Castle, he uncovers a sealed letter that calls for the execution of him. Hamlet informs his good friend Horatio of this and reveals to him his plot to overcome Claudius’ plan to have him killed while in England. Hamlet exchanges the letter for him to be executed instead for his two former friends who now caters to Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Up from my cabin, My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark Gropes I to find out them, has no desire, Fingeres their pocket, and in fine]withdrew To mine own room again, making so bold, My fears forgetting manners, to unseal Their grand commission where I found, Horatio- O royal knavery! - an exact command, Lareded with many several sorts of reasons, Importing Denmark's health, and England's too, With ho! Such bugs and goblins in my life that on supervise, no leisure bated, No, not to stay the grinding of the axe, my head should be struck off. With this being said one can see how rash Hamlet is as a person.

Yes, even if he did not switch the letter he would still suffer, but by switching the letter he could have gone to jail and this could have ruined his reputation. Hamlet only thinks about how things will work out in the beginning, he

does not think of how things might affect him [Soft Break]later on. Nevertheless, Hamlets rash behaviour does not just end there, Hamlet carries over his rash behaviour to Ophelia. Hamlet never seems to think of what might happen before he does something wrong and shameful. He seems to think that nothing bad will ever happen when he does a wrong deed.

In Act 3 Scene 1, Ophelia goes to meet Hamlet to speak with him and Polonius and Claudius hide in a room to spy on them. Polonius and Claudius are spying on the two because they want to find out why Hamlet is acting so crazy. Ophelia is aware of Polonius and Claudius spying because Polonius instructs his daughter Ophelia to speak with Hamlet to see if he is lovesick or has just gone mad. When Ophelia begins speaking to Hamlet he starts to taunt her, saying that he once loved her, and then denying it. He orders her to a nunnery and degrades her and embarrasses her as if she is a disgusting shameful woman. Hamlet.

Get thee to a nunnery, farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs Marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what    Monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too, farewell. (III. i. 138-142) Ophelia is left bewildered and heartbroken, sure that Hamlet is insane. After, Hamlet storms out and Ophelia makes her "O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown" soliloquy, Hamlet yells at Ophelia telling her to go to a nunnery because no man will ever love or marry her since she lost her virginity to a man she is not even married to. He

keeps telling her that he does not love her and continues to taunt her.

Hamlet says all of this not thinking how Ophelia will react to it. Hamlet tells Ophelia that he does not love her but this is ironic because when she dies in Act 5 Scene 1 he reveals that he loves her. "I love Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum. " This shows Hamlets rash behaviour because Hamlet said all of these harmful things to Ophelia not knowing she would become crazy and commit suicide. Hamlets rash behaviour leads him to his downfall here because the love of his life dies, making him also lose apart of him.

In conclusion, one can see how Hamlets rash behaviour helps lead him to his downfall. Hamlet kills Polonius not thinking that his son Laertes would want revenge, which is also ironic because he was trying to avenge his father’s death as well. Also he switches the execution letters not thinking how it may affect him. And he taunts Ophelia not thinking she would kill herself making him lose the love of his life. Hamlet is not only just an indecisive and rash man however; he is also a misogynist man whose hatred for woman is shown very much throughout the play.

Hamlets misogynist character plays another huge role in his tragic death. Hamlet accuses the woman in the play to be unfaithful, uncaring, and deceitful creatures. The way Hamlet feels about women starts with his mother, Gertrude, and reflects upon his lover Ophelia. Hamlets suspicions towards women are derived from his mother’s morally questionable behaviour. Her marriage

to his uncles brother only a week after his father was deceased has caused him concern and distended with woman; "O, most wicked speed to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (1:2:156-157) In Hamlet’s mind now, his mother has fallen from the pedicle that she used to be on when he was a child. Her behaviour has led Hamlet to the conclusion that all women end up this way. In Hamlets mind all women are caste in the same light as his mother and behave in the same vulgar manner, Hamlet begins to feel sick to his stomach thinking of the idea of his mother and Claudius sleeping together: "In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, / Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love / Over the nasty sty! (3. 4. 94-96). Eventually Hamlets anger towards his mother reaches a breaking point in Act Three, Scene Four and he expresses his feelings with physical anger. The play reaches the climatic point when Hamlet expresses his feeling to his mother in an attempt to reach out to her one last time and save her soul and for her to apologize for marrying Claudius. He begs her to "Confess [herself] to heaven; / Repent what’s past; avoid what is to come, / And do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker. (3:4:151-154) Hamlets hope is in devotion to avenging his father’s death, Hamlet attempts to convince his mother that remaining celibate is a practice that she should engage in and a side of Hamlet that is not as pessimist as his character is first perceived, that side is not

shown for too long when his mother does not do what he asks. Hamlet. Here is your husband, like a mildew’d ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes?

You cannot call it love, for at your age The hey-day in the blood is tame, its humble, And waits upon the judgement, and what judgement Would step from this to this? William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (III. iv. 64-71). Hamlet’s anger towards his mother also leads him to his death because Gertrude could have helped Hamlet face Claudius. She didn’t have to help murder him but they could have reported it and Gertrude could have been there to support him. Instead, Hamlet did not want any help from his mother anymore because of her infidelity, which caused Hamlet to face Claudius lone. Hamlet’s anger towards his mother is eventually directed to his lover Ophelia, which ultimately is the cause of his tragic death. The breakdown of Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship is a direct result of his mother’s behaviour and its damaging effect on him. It is evident that the effects of Gertrude’s behaviour on Hamlet is demonstrated through his physical and verbal actions towards Ophelia, because of this however Hamlet is unable to recognize this in himself and pushes her away telling her to go to a nunnery. Hamlet. Get thee to a nunnery, why wouldst thou be a   Breeder of sinners?

I am myself indifferent honest,   But yet I could accuse me of such things that it were   Better my mother had not borne me: I am

very   Proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences William Shakespeare, Hamlet; (IV. iii. 40-46) In addition, Hamlet degrades her in the “Mouse Trap” Scene, speaking vulgarly towards her: "It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. " (3:2:255-256) His hostile attitude mocks her innocence as he questions his love for her: "You should not have believed me. (3:1:117) Hamlet’s hatred for Ophelia causes her to go insane and eventually leading her to kill herself, because Hamlet taunts her so much she can not take the pain anymore and commits suicide. By Hamlet leading Ophelia to her death, Laertes, Ophelia’s brother develops hatred towards Hamlet and wants to kill him. Now Hamlet’s misogynist flaw leads him to his death and dual between Laertes, because Hamlet has been so disrespectful to the woman throughout the play and leads one of them to their death, Ophelia.

Laertes despises Hamlet for that and wants nothing more then to kill him for killing his father, Polonius, who died in Act 3 scene4 by stabbing him and now by making his sister commit suicide. At Ophelia’s funeral Laertes curses Hamlet and leaps into Ophelia’s grave. Hamlet comes forward, and Laertes tries to strangle him but the attendants break up the fight and Claudius reminds Laertes of their plan of revenge. King. Stregthen your patience in our last Night speech; We’ll put the matter to present push. Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.

This grave shall have a living monument:          As hour of quiet shortly shall we see;           Till then in patience our proceeding be. William Shakespeare, Hamlet;(V. i. 294-300). Claudius creates a plan to have a dual

between Hamlet and Laertes, and Laertes’s sword would have poison on it so that the littlest scratch against Hamlet would kill him. In conclusion, one can see how Hamlets misogynist behaviour ultimately results in his tragic death.

By Hamlet having so much hatred towards his mother he does not ask her for her help with getting revenge on Claudius. And by him being so disgusted in his mother it makes him see Ophelia and every other woman in a different light making him treat her with the utter most disrespect and making her go crazy leading her to her death. In the end Hamlet ends up suffering because of all this and dies a tragic hero. Therefore, on account of all his tragic flaws it is easy to see why Hamlet is considered a tragic hero. His indecisiveness leads him to his death because he contemplates killing Claudius for too long.

And his rash behaviour also leads him to his grave because he does not think things through before acting. And lastly his misogynist attribute leads him to his downfall because he pushes away the women who loved and would have helped him but instead they did not get the chance to because of this. It is clear to see that Hamlet still would have been alive if he had a different approach with things and did not take matters into his hands the way he did. But of course it is only normal for a tragic hero to have flaws such as these.

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