Hamlet As An Aristotelian Tragedy Essay -- essays research papers

According to the Aristotelian view of tragedy, a tragical hero must fall through his or her own error. This is typically called the "tragic flaw", and can be applied to any characteristic that causes the downfall the hero. Shakespeares crossroads, 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 softness 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 closing to his son, and tells Hamlet to avenge the murder. Hamlets first response is one that sounds of speedy action, saying "Haste me to knowt that I with winds as swift May sweep to my revenge." (p. 34 lines 29-31) Unfortunately, Hamlets inability to act on his fathers extortion has him reluctant to kill King Claudius by the end of that very scene, when he says, "T his time is out of joint, O cursed spite, that I was constantly born to set it right." (p. 41 lines 190-191)As the play goes on, Hamlet still has yet to act on his murderous task. In act II, scene 2, Hamlet decides that, before he can avenge his fathers death, he must make sure that the Ghost was telling the truth. This simply gives Hamlet more excuse to procrastinate-he gets to adorn off killing Claudius until after the "play within a play", Mousetrap, is preformed. Not surprisin...