Andrew Fahmy
Ms. Sarkovski
ENG4U1
January 15, 2014

Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

In Shakespeare’s plays, many factors create a tragic hero. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be a person of high character who faces his destiny with courage and nobility of spirit, hence the pity felt by the audience. In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, the character Hamlet is depicted as a tragic hero because of his noble intentions, the pity he evolves and his sincere, yet, self-destructive over analysis of his predicament.
In the play “Hamlet”, the death of Hamlet’s father and the suspicious remarriage of his mother bring the audience to feel pity for him. For instance, Hamlet says: “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew.” (Act I, Sc. ii, Ln.129, 130) Although, he is saddened by his father’s death, the larger cause of Prince Hamlet’s misery is Queen Gertrude’s disloyal remarriage. By viewing Hamlet’s state of depression in the Elizabethan perspective, Elizabethans believed that the human body is made up of four basic elements, called humors: phlegm, blood, yellow bile and black bile. Hamlet’s seems to be suffering from what Elizabethans referred to as “Melancholy”. This was associated with too much “black bile” in the body. It is similar to what medicine calls “clinical depression” today, in which it is the state led to lethargy, irritability and distorted imagination. Since this is the 17th rather than the 21st century, Hamlet can’t just move on or seek medication; he must plot a homicidal revenge. By creating such tragic situation, Shakespeare succeeded in creating a strong illustration to the victim that people would feel pity for him and his Psychological suffering.
Throughout the play, the audiences tumble upon many quotes and factors that prove Hamlet’s courage and nobility. Hamlet is willing to risk god’s wrath to speak to his father one more time when he says: “I’ll speak to it, though Hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace.” (Act I, Sc. ii, Ln. 243,244). This quote proves Hamlet’s courage and loyalty to his father; he is willing to risk doing the wrong thing if it means easing his grief and psychological suffering. Even though, after speaking to the ghost, Hamlet states his role towards his father’s death when he says: “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 whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab.” (Act II, Sc. ii, Ln. 544-549) Hamlet shares his inner feelings to the audience in which he specifically scolds himself of not seeking the noble intention of avenging his father’s murder. This can be interpreted as a noble act because it shows his loyalty to his father and his determination to set things right in Denmark.
Hamlet’s overthinking is one of the greatest reasons that lead to his draw back and death. In Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be,” (Act III, Sc. i, Ln. 57-92) Hamlet states the question that plagues him through the entire play. Hamlet’s inability to make decisions followed by inaction. As it was emphasized in the play and his speeches, Hamlet has the mind of a true thinker. He proved the fact of his brilliance when he says: “I’ll observe his looks. I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, I know my course.” (Act II, Sc. ii, Ln. 560-562) Reenacting the death of his father in front of Claudius was itself a brilliant idea. Although he may have conceived schemes such as this, his mind was holding him back at the same time. His need to analyze and prove everything to certain drew his time of action farther and farther away. He continuously doubted himself and his thoughts. Hamlet suffers from too much philosophy. He loves beauty and appreciates reasoning and wisdom. He is honest and virtue. But by looking around him he sees murder, lies, greed, ignorance and hate. The world makes no sense to him so he does not do anything.
In conclusion, Shakespeare has created an effective character to illustrate a tragic hero. He was able to create an unordinary character with outstanding quality and greatness about him. Hamlet’s destruction was for a greater cause and principal, his suffering was not senseless as it had a great meaning. Shakespeare could reflect Hamlet’s grief which led to the audience feeling pity and sorrow for him. Hamlet’s downfall was due to his excessive thinking and analyzing. Hamlet’s courage and loyalty have created and admirable character that strongly stands in the play. Hamlet is enigmatic; there is always more to him than the other characters in the play, making him a good illustration to a tragic hero.