Hamlet Tragic Hero

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Tragedy, “a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.” A tragic hero is a character who experiences such a conflict and suffers as a result of his choices and related actions. The character from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, is a excellent example of this As the play’s tragic hero, Hamlet exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. A complex character, he displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play’s development. When he is first introduced in Act I- Scene 2, Hamlet is a sensitive young prince who is mourning the death of his father, the King. In addition, his mother’s immediate marriage to his uncle has left him in even greater despair. Mixed in with this extremely large sense of grief, are obvious feelings of anger and frustration. The combination of these emotions can leave the reader (or viewer since it is a play) sympathetic to Hamlet; in which he becomes a very “human” character. The audience can see from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun. Hamlet’s anger and grief- primarily stemming from his mother’s marriage to Claudius- brings him to thoughts of suicide, which only subside as a result of it being a mortal and religious sin. The fact that he wants to take his own life demonstrates a weakness in his character; a sense of cowarness, his decision not to kill himself because of religious beliefs shows that this weakness is balanced with some sense of morality. Such an obvious paradox is only one example of the inner conflict and turmoil that will eventually lead to Hamlet’s downfall. In addition to this internal struggle, Hamlet feels it is his duty to dethrone Claudius and become the King of Denmark. This revenge, he

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