Hamlet - the Tragic Hero

Hamlet
The Tragic Hero

The playwright William Shakespeare reveals a tragic hero in his greatest tragedy "Hamlet". This hero is the young prince Hamlet. He fulfills all of Aristotle’s requirements for a tragic hero. Three key events in the play demonstrate these requirements: First, when Hamlet does not murder Claudius at his first opportunity after being asked by his father’s ghost, Secondly, his confrontation with Ophelia regarding her returning his gifts, and lastly his reaction to Claudius’s plot against his life when he suspects that Hamlet has discovered that he was the murderer. Hamlet has believes in his own freedom, a supreme pride, a capacity for suffering, and a sense of commitment. He also energetically protests his situation, undergoes a transfiguration, and finds a deeper understanding of the human condition. Hence, Hamlet is a tragic hero.
Hamlet has a belief in his own freedom. He has the courage to make a decision and to accept the consequences of that decision. When the ghost of King Hamlet entreats his son to seek revenge upon Claudius, “So thou art to revenge, when thou shalt hear.” (I, v), he does. However, the thoughtful and reflective Hamlet waits for proof of Claudius murdering King Hamlet before making his decision,
There is a play tonight before the King. One scene comes near the circumstance which I have told thee, of my father’s death. I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, even with the very comment of the soul observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt do not inkennel in one speech it is a damned ghost that we have seen. (III. ii)

Once Hamlet decides the ghost is real and truthful, he goes through with revenge. He has faith in his choice and in what he was doing, even though he knows that there is the risk of dying in the process. Hamlet avoids almost certain death more than once in trying to fulfill his task. The discovery of Hamlet’s immense pride is in events of the play and in his personality traits. He is prone to fits of passion and impulsive action. Hamlet also angers quickly. In act three when Hamlet sights Ophelia, who tells him that she wishes to return the trinkets of love he has given her. Hamlet angrily denies having given her anything; working himself into an insane rage, Hamlet berates Ophelia, women, and humanity in general. Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia exemplifies his pride, his pretense of madness gives him the liberty to say, think, and do what he likes without any social inhibitions. In this scene, he seems to be swept away by that liberty into a kind of blinding, desperate anger. Only a man filled with pride would have the nerve to fake insanity to communicate his feelings. The character Hamlet has a capacity for suffering. He loses everything, his father, his lover Ophelia, in a sense his mother and his life for his cause. Hamlet suffers because he continually puts off his task, thus jeopardizing himself. Hamlet wrestles with himself about murdering Claudius; he wants to take revenge and feels justified in doing it, but somehow finds reasons not to. When the opportunity presents itself, Hamlet makes excuses like not being able to do it while Claudius is praying because then Claudius will go to heaven,
Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying, and now I’ll do’t. And so ‘a goes to heaven, and so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and for that I, his soles son, do this same villain send to heaven. (III, iii)

What Hamlet does not realize is that if he had murdered Claudius, it would have been appropriate revenge because Claudius could not pray. Hamlet has the strength and courage to continue in his quest despite knowing that his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have betrayed him and that his stepfather wants him dead. Thus, he proves that he has a capacity for suffering. Hamlet is committed to murdering Claudius, once he finally makes up his mind it stays that way. Hamlet dedicates himself to seeing the resolution of the situation. This is apparent when he returns from England regardless of knowing that there is a plot against his life. If he were not devoted to keeping his vow to his father, he would have stayed in England. No one without a purpose would return to a place were they were likely to die. “The tragic hero objects with vehemence, logic, and pain against the situation in which he finds himself.” While plotting his revenge, Hamlet experiences all of aforementioned. For instance, Hamlet is logical when he sees Claudius praying. He does not kill Claudius because he feels it would be an inappropriate revenge. Another time when these characteristics are apparent is when he discovers that the king plans to have him executed in England. He cleverly rewrites the letter and orders Rosencratz and Guildenstern’s execution instead, “Folded the writ up in the form of th’ other, subscribed it, gave’t th’ impression, placed it safely, the changeling never known.” (V. ii) This move was ingenious, Hamlet avoided sure death. Hamlet shows vehemence by forcing his old friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s execution, logic by considering the consequences of his timing of the murder, and pain in being able to send others to death and to commit murder himself. It shows that he deals with the situation vehemently, logically, and with pain. Hamlet’s suffering causes him to change, develop, and to gain a greater understanding of the human condition. At first Hamlet is very hesitant about his revenge, he does not kill Claudius in the church and makes sure he is guilty by having him see “The Mousetrap” in which the events of King Hamlet’s murder are re-enacted. In the end, Hamlet changes and swiftly exacts his revenge. Hamlet is softened by his experiences even though he becomes a murderer and “he rises from the ash heap a wise and more human individual.” This is seen when he tells Horatio that he has no sympathy for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who "did make love to this employment”, but that he feels sorry for having behaved with such hostility toward Laertes. Hamlet murdered Laertes father while he was spying, he thought he was killing Claudius. In Laertes 's desire to avenge his father 's death, he says, he sees the mirror image of his own, and he promises to court Laertes 's good favor. In being able to see others views, Hamlet gains perspective and in turn is wiser and more humane; thus, undergoing a transfiguration and understanding the human condition better.
Aristotle’s qualifications for being a tragic hero are in the character of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s great play of the same name. Hamlet maintains a belief in his freedom, pride, has the capacity for suffering, and commitment to his cause. He also protests his situation, undergoes a transfiguration, and understands the human condition better. Hamlet once a young Prince in love becomes a tragic hero.

Works Cited

The Elements of Drama, The Characteristics of the Tragic Man

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet The Prinice of Denmark

Cited: The Elements of Drama, The Characteristics of the Tragic Man Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet The Prinice of Denmark