Hamlet As An Aristotelian Tragedy Essay - 581 Words

According to the Aristotelian view of tragedy, a tragic hero must fall through his or her own error. This is typically called the quot;tragic flawquot;, and can be applied to any characteristic that causes the downfall the hero. Shakespeares Hamlet, Prince of Denmark can be seen as an Aristotelian tragedy and Hamlet as its tragic hero. Hamlets flaw, which in accordance with Aristotles principles of tragedy causes his demise, is his inability to act. This defect of Hamlets character is displayed throughout the play. In the opening scenes of the play, the Ghost of old Hamlet reveals the truth about his death to his son, and tells Hamlet to avenge the murder. Hamlets first response is one that sounds of speedy action, saying†¦show more content†¦Further evidence of Hamlets tragic flaw can be found in act III, scene 3. At this point, Hamlet is sure of Claudius guilt, and has even declared that quot;Now could I drink hot blood and do such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on.quot; (p. 99 lines 406-408) He comes to find King Claudius alone, and recognizes it as an opportunity to act, but almost immediately talks himself out of action on the bases that the King is praying, and will therefore go to heaven. He decides yet again to delay avenging his fathers murder, this time until he can kill the King while he is in a vile condition, such as quot;When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed.quot; (p. 103 lines 89-90) Hamlet has failed to act for so long that the Ghost soon comes back to remind him of his duty. In the end, we see that Hamlets inability to act indeed causes his fall, and that his failure costs him not only his life, but also his mothers. In the final scene, Hamlet duels with Laertes, who has conspired with the King to kill Hamlet. In the Kings attempt to kill Hamlet, he accidentally poisons the Queen. Laertes delivers the fatal wound to Hamlet with a sword dipped in a deadly poison and it is only with his final life breath that Hamlet finally kills the King. This does not mean that Hamlet has finally acted-he has only reacted to what is happening to him. If Hamlet had initially carried out hisShow MoreRelatedHamlet and Macbeth Compared as Aristotelian Tragedies Essay1732 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle’s Poetics is often considered the blueprint to a successful tragedy; his outline has been used for hundreds of years. Aristotle defines a tragedy as â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude†¦ in the form of an action, n ot of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (House 82). Aristotle believed that the most important part of a strong tragedy was the plot, and from that, the other elements such as character,Read MoreEssay on Hamlet and Macbeth Analyzed as Aristotelian Tragedies1839 Words   |  8 Pageswritten tragedy; his methods have been used for centuries. Aristotle defines a tragedy as â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude†¦ in the form of an action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (House, 82). The philosopher believes the plot to be the most vital aspect of a tragedy, thus all other parts such as character, diction, and thought stem from the plot. Aristotle affirms, â€Å"the principle of tragedy – theRead More Tragedy In Drama Essay1713 Words   |  7 Pages Tragedy and Drama In a range of dramatic works from Agamemnon to Hamlet, one sees the range of development of the tragic form, from the earliest Greek to the later Shakespearean tragedies. There are two basic concepts of tragedy: the concept introduced by Aristotle in his Poetics, and the concept developed by Frederick Nietzsche in his quot;The Birth of Tragedy.quot; Many dramas can be reviewed to reveal the contrast between these two concepts of tragedy, and demonstrate the development of theRead MoreEssay on Hamlet as a Tragic Hero in William Shakespeares Play748 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet as a Tragic Hero in William Shakespeares Play According to the Aristoltelian view of tragedy, a tragic hero must fall through his own error. This is typically called the tragic flaw and can be applied to any characteristic that causes the downfall of a hero. Hamlet can be seen as a aristotelian tragedy and hamlet as its tragic hero. Hamlets flaw, which in accordance with Aristotles principles of tragedy causes demise, is his inability to act. This defectRead MoreThe Aristotelian Method Of Shakespeare s Hamlet Essay1805 Words   |  8 PagesThe Aristotelian method is an extremely good way to analyze tragedies, but is it the best way? In Hamlet, there is evidence of all of the six elements that Aristotle thought created a successful tragedy, as well as a turning point. This method of analyzing can help to separate and analyze a lot of what makes Hamlet such a successful and classic play. From the plot to the spectacle, Hamlet shows evidence of everything. Even if this method isn’t the best way to analyze Hamlet, it does create a goodRead MoreThe Self Defeat of Heroes in Shakespeares Tragedies: A Character Analysis of Hamlet and Othello1495 Words   |  6 PagesThe Self-Defeat of Heroes in Shakespeares Tragedies: A Character Analysis of Hamlet and Othello Introduction Aristotle asserted that all tragic heroes had fundamental flaws that were the source of their undoing, and that were typically the source of their initial success, as well. Oedipus thinks he acts with justice, wisdom, and the assurance of success, and these things also cause him to completely destroy himself when he discovers the truth of his situation, as one prominent example. TheRead MoreEssay The Tragedy of Othello1292 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare masterfully crafted Othello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle’s principles to create Othello. William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action. The powerRead MoreHamlet : A Flawed Anti-Tr agic Hero1715 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle’s poetics have long been considered the go-to guide for determining well written â€Å"poetry†, most notably in comedies and tragedies. Hamlet, like many of Shakespeare’s plays, is considered to be a tragedy although there is room to debate whether or not its protagonist is the quintessential tragic hero or a deeply flawed anti-tragic hero. Evaluating Hamlet using Aristotle’s theories, especially considering the criticism Shakespeare received for seemingly defying these ideals, may be the mostRead MoreHamlet Soliloquy Analysis Essay2074 Words   |  9 PagesThis soliloquy by Hamlet is where he first devises the plan of the â€Å"Mouse Trap† (Act III, scene 2). It begins with Hamlet describing how he has heard that people can be overcome with guilt and remorse of their â€Å"malefactions† that they openly proclaim them, when viewing a scene of a play similar to that of their crime. As a result o f this Hamlet resolves to set a trap for Claudius, in which he will watch a play that has a scene closely resembling the murder of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet reasons that uponRead MoreEssay on The Ideal Hero in Shakespeares Hamlet1632 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is not like the other tragic heroes of his period. He stands apart from other Shakespeares heroes because of his innocence. Perhaps this supposed tragic hero is an ideal hero - one without the tragic flaw. The tragic flaw has been a part of the formula for the tragedy since the Golden age of Greece. The main, and, most often, the only flaw that has been attributed to Hamlet is his delay.   This seems to constitute the central part in Hamlet. Critics seem to cling to this detail, as if