William Shakespeare was a brilliant English poet, playwright, and actor who lived between 1564 and 1616. Shakespeare’s most notable works include the tragedies, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet. Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is a story of deceit, treachery, and bloodshed. It is through these events that Hamlet reveals his true nature, the persona of a tragic hero. Hamlet fits the convention of a tragic hero, as he is a man of high estate who suffers from a tragic flaw, which leads to his downfall and ultimate death. Prior to his death, he shows a redeeming quality and upon his death, order is restored. Hamlet is a man of high estate. This is evident as Hamlet reveals himself as highly educated. Immediately following the court scene,
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However, it is not King Hamlet, but Hamlet, who brings up the idea of heaven and hell as an eternal resting place for Claudius. As Hamlet continues to think about his action, he contemplates the validity of revenge if Claudius goes to heaven and decides that it is not truly avenging his father’s death. This becomes the turning point of the play as Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius while he was alone and vulnerable and chooses not to act, revealing his tragic flaw. It is Hamlet’s tragic flaw of inaction, which causes him to fit the definition of a tragic …show more content…
As Fortinbras takes his rule upon Hamlet’s death, the Elizabethan Great Chain of Being is no longer being disrupted. Many years ago, King Hamlet and King Fortinbras made a wager and duelled for some land. The winner was to receive a portion of the loser’s land, making Fortinbras the rightful heir to Denmark. In his last breath, Hamlet exclaims, “But I do prophesy the election lights / On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice” (5.2.348-349), electing Fortinbras as King of Denmark. Hamlet acknowledges that his father killed King Fortinbras and as a result, Denmark received a portion of Norway’s land from to the wager. However, he elects Fortinbras as King because, now that everyone who disrupted the Great Chain of Being is dead, Hamlet sees Fortinbras as a worthy leader for Denmark. Order is restored as Fortinbras takes his rule over Elsinore through Hamlet’s nomination and his ancient family rights to Denmark from the
However, it is not King Hamlet, but Hamlet, who brings up the idea of heaven and hell as an eternal resting place for Claudius. As Hamlet continues to think about his action, he contemplates the validity of revenge if Claudius goes to heaven and decides that it is not truly avenging his father’s death. This becomes the turning point of the play as Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius while he was alone and vulnerable and chooses not to act, revealing his tragic flaw. It is Hamlet’s tragic flaw of inaction, which causes him to fit the definition of a tragic …show more content…
As Fortinbras takes his rule upon Hamlet’s death, the Elizabethan Great Chain of Being is no longer being disrupted. Many years ago, King Hamlet and King Fortinbras made a wager and duelled for some land. The winner was to receive a portion of the loser’s land, making Fortinbras the rightful heir to Denmark. In his last breath, Hamlet exclaims, “But I do prophesy the election lights / On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice” (5.2.348-349), electing Fortinbras as King of Denmark. Hamlet acknowledges that his father killed King Fortinbras and as a result, Denmark received a portion of Norway’s land from to the wager. However, he elects Fortinbras as King because, now that everyone who disrupted the Great Chain of Being is dead, Hamlet sees Fortinbras as a worthy leader for Denmark. Order is restored as Fortinbras takes his rule over Elsinore through Hamlet’s nomination and his ancient family rights to Denmark from the