Hamlet is a Tragic Hero Essay Example

According to Aristotle's book Poetics, a tragic hero is “a man not pre-eminently virtuous and just, whose misfortune, however, is brought upon him not by vice or depravity, but by some error of judgment...” (Poetics Chapter XIII). This concept proposed by Aristotle essentially states that a nobleman with heroic attributes whose affairs are turned upside down by a tragic flaw, will lead to the tragic hero's collapse. Hamlet represents this concept as he is a nobleman, the Prince of Denmark, whose fatal flaw was discovering his Uncle Claudius to be the reason for his father's death (1.5.40). Aristotle further qualifies a tragic hero as “a person who must evoke a sense of pity and fear in the audience. He is considered a man of misfortune that comes to him through error of judgment." (Aristotle Poetics). Aristotle additionally defines a tragic hero as having six characteristics: Hubris, Anagnorisis, Peripeteia, Catharsis, Hamartia, and Nemesis (Aristotle Poetics). Consequently, Shakespeare's play Hamlet can be classified as a tragedy because Hamlet embodies the notion of a tragic hero, as per Aristotle’s definition, due to his Anagnorisis (self-awareness), Hamartia (tragic flaw), and Catharsis.

The first piece of evidence of why Hamlet is a tragic hero is Anagnorisis. According to Greek literature, Anagnorisis is the “recognition by the tragic hero of some truth about his or her identity.” The audience first encounters Anagnorisis in Act 1 when Hamlet faces his fathers’ ghost and learns that his Uncle Claudius is to blame for his fathers’ death. Hamlets’ self-awareness is highlighted in this scene when he states, “The time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right. Nay, come, let’s go together.” (1.5.196). This remark depicts Hamlet's realization of his life's mission: to avenge his father's killer. Furthermore, as the play unfolds, the reader sees Hamlet's recurring Anagnorisis, such as when he understands and recalls his goal while witnessing the Norwegians battle over a small plot of land. “How all occasions do inform against me And spur my dull revenge!... The imminent death of twenty thousand men, That for a fantasy and trick of fame Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”(4.4.30-65). This quote further gives the reader an understanding of Hamlets’ Anagnorisis as Hamlet realizes that while Fortinbras army is on their way to battle for a small plot of land, he is taking far too long to take his revenge. In the end, Hamlets’ Anagnorisis plays a role in his Hamartia (tragic flaw).

Hamlets’ tragic flaw is also the result of his tragic hero. According to Aristotle, a tragic flaw “is a character trait that brings about the downfall of the protagonist.” In terms of Hamlet, his tragic flaw is his indecisiveness and procrastination to avenge his father's murderer, Claudius. This can be seen when Hamlet was ready to kill Claudius but decided to delay it after realizing that he was "praying.” Hamlet says: “Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned.” (3.3.75-80). This quote shows Hamlet's indecisiveness because as Hamlet enters the room, he believes he sees Claudius "praying," which causes him to delay since he realizes Claudius' soul will be pure and sent to heaven if he dies while praying. Furthermore, Hamlet's tragic flaw (indecisiveness) leads to his tragic downfall as well as the death of the other characters such as Polonius, Gertrude, and Laertes. It thus prompts readers to contemplate that if Hamlet had acted on his vengeance as soon as he had the opportunity, he may have averted the deaths of himself, the main characters, and the catharsis inflicted on the audience.

The final piece of evidence as to why Hamlet is a tragic hero is his Catharsis. As mentioned by writingexplained.org catharsis is an “intense emotional effect that a tragedy has on its audience.” According to Aristotle, tragedy intends to elicit 'catharsis' in the reader causing them to experience emotions toward the plays being performed. This can be shown in act 5 scene 2, when Hamlet agrees to play a fair duel with Laertes, not knowing about Laertes and Claudius' plan: “you may choose A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice Requite him for your father/ And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank,/ And that he calls for drink, I’ll have prepared him A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venomed stuck.” (4.7.125-158). This draws empathy from the audience as this plan leads to the tragic death of Hamlet as well as many other primary characters.