The Tragic Hero Of Shakespeare s Hamlet - 1513 Words

[insert introduction here] Macbeth and Hamlet are both tragic heroes whose fall from greatness disturbs the order of their kingdoms. A tragic hero is a character, one of high esteem, whose internal imperfection leads to their downfall. Both Macbeth and Hamlet are well known and of high social class when an unexpected calamity hits. Hamlet, the son of the king of Denmark, is a charismatic prince â€Å"most immediate to [the] throne† (Shakespeare, Ham I.ii.109). It can be inferred that he lives a rather extravagant and convenient lifestyle. That is, until his father dies and his uncle takes both the throne and Hamlet’s mother as wife. From Hamlet’s perspective this is a calamity for two reasons: Hamlet was heir to the throne, and his mother†¦show more content†¦His reaction upon learning this fate is twofold: Macbeth can wait patiently for legitimate royalty, or he can give into his black and deep desires, and steal the throne from Duncan (X). Hamlet s fate, on the other hand, is to set right the murder of his father(x). It both cases, neither of the characters fates are what killed th em, but rather their tragic flaws. While Macbeth ultimately succumbs to his unchecked ambition and rashly murders any potential and unlikely threat to the throne, Hamlet procrastinates and fails to fulfill his revenge in a timely, simplistic manner. Because of his uncontrolled ambition, Macbeth blindly trusts the witches who promise inviolable royalty, murders his closest friend, and kills the family of his nemesis. Hamlet, on the other hand, weary of the legitimacy of the supernatural, puts on an antic disposition and delays his revenge as he searches for confirmation of the ghost s accusations (x). Hamlet s procrastination causes him to miss multiple opportunities at revenge. For example, he chooses not to kill a vulnerable, praying Claudius (x). In this way, Macbeth and Hamlet fall victim to their own actions. Had Macbeth been satisfied with just his throne, he would not have risen any suspicion amongst the others. Similarly, had Hamlet acted in a timely manner and killed Claudiu s the moment he was made aware of hisShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Hero Of Shakespeare s Hamlet 1599 Words   |  7 PagesRachel Conley Mr. David Rasnake English 1020 November 10, 2015 Paper 3~ Tragic Hero What is tragedy? What makes someone or something a tragic hero? A tragedy is â€Å"A serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior face and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion elicits the pity or terror† (Merriam-Webster). Tragedy can be a good or a bad thing in life. Also, depending on what the tragedy is, it should have a powerful impact on our lives. A tragedy can changeRead 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. 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