What makes Hamlet a tragic figure? To what extent is he responsible for the tragic events of the play? In answering this question examine what reasons are suggested for Hamlet's delay in exacting revenge for his father's death? Do you find these reasons p

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2. What makes Hamlet a tragic figure? To what extent is he responsible for the tragic events of the play? In answering this question examine what reasons are suggested for Hamlet’s delay in exacting revenge for his father’s death? Do you find these reasons plausible? Why or why not?

        Hamlet and his story is the perfect example of what comprises a “tragedy.”  There are many factors that must be considered when attempting the art of tragedy.  First, the tragic hero must be of great status.  Also, the hero must possess a certain characteristic, “tragic flaw,” that eventually leads to his or her downfall.  The suffering and calamity of the hero’s story must be exceptional.  And lastly, the tragic story leads up to, and includes, the death of the hero.  Shakespear’s ingenuity develops Hamlet’s character and his story to perfectly fit these requirements for a tragedy.  

An important component of a tragedy is that the tragic hero must be “great”, such as in status within his or her social environment.  This is because it is believed that the audience cannot feel the same pity for a person of lowly rank that loses his or her fortune or rank than for a person of high rank to.  This is because the character that is “greater” loses much more than the peasant, according to Shakespeare.

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The tragic hero is responsible for their downfall through their own “tragic flaw.”  Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his obsession.  Throughout the course of the work, Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s many obsessions.  His main obsession, that leads to all the tragic events in the play all sprout from Hamlet’s obsession with dignity and revenge.  His intense need to act revengefully towards the man that took his fathers life and throne caused him to delay his actions so long that his hatred towards Claudius grew larger and larger.  Hamlet became obsessed with destroying Claudius in a very horrible way that he did not ...

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