What Are The Tragic Flaws In Hamlet

Throughout the history of plays, the main character or protagonist always has certain characteristics and flaws. These attributes associated with the main character usually determine how the protagonist will be affected throughout the story and in the outcome of the story. A character’s flaws usually end up being a negative connotation by adding some tragic event. In the play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, the main character or the protagonist of the play is affected by tragic events in his life due to his lack of action. In the play, Hamlet, the main character, is bound by flaws. The flaws Hamlet is enclosed with lead him to his fatal doom and all around disaster. In the play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Hamlet is consumed by a specific tragic flaw, his inability to act, and this leads to the death of his loved ones and himself. The life of a prince is not all silver spoons and royalty; instead, …show more content…
William Shakespeare uses Hamlet, the son of the king of Denmark, as the main character in the play. Hamlet, the son of a king, is born into royalty which breeds great qualities into the person he is and who he will become. Not only does Hamlet have king like qualities, but he also carries the burden of being bound by flaws. These flaws are not shown until his father, the king, is killed by his uncle, Claudius. This tragic event advances to the downfall of Hamlet and eventually ends up in disaster and insanity. Devi Indira’s definition of a tragic flaw is “A 'tragic flaw ' is a literary term that refers to a personality trait of the protagonist that leads to his or her downfall due to the personal defect of character” (1). This definition shows that in a tragedy, the main character, Hamlet, will end up in a major defeat. When the ghost of king Hamlet arrives, everyone is in a state