It can be argued that Hamlet's seeming inability to act and his inclination
to reflect in a melancholic manner is a tragic flaw that eventually leads him to
his own demise. Is this an accurate claim?
I don't know if I agree necessarily that Hamlet's failure to act should be considered a tragic flaw. I remember reading in that packet by (Aristotle? Socrates? I can't remember) that a main part of tragedy is its unavoidable nature, and is enhanced when the reader knows what is coming while the characters are unaware. In that sense, the scenes involving Claudius plotting to poison Hamlet would set up the tragedy more effectively than Hamlet's failure to act. In fact, it was Hamlet's decision to act - when he shot who he thought was Claudius - that eventually led to his death. By killing Polonius, Hamlet encouraged Ophelia's madness, which led to her suicide, and enraged her brother, who was the one who poisoned Hamlet in the duel. So, it would appear that the source of all this tragedy, the very source of Hamlet's death in fact, is his rash decision to kill "Claudius."
Actually, I think that Hamlet took more action than we suspect. For example, when told that his father's death was in reality a murder, Hamlet exclaims, "with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge" (I,v,35-7). This assumption of responsibility, him saying "my" revenge instead of say, "my father's revenge", suggests that Hamlet chooses to act, even when he is not obligated to. So, in using his madman shenanigans from this point onward, it is emphasized that Hamlet is acting throughout the play, propelling himself with every remark/action he makes. I would have to agree with Karen though, that his "tragic flaw" would be his mistaken murder of Polonius. If you think about it, his murder would appear to make Hamlet look even more mad (propelling his image) and to others (like Laertes) he looks even more worthy of death. Thus, his flaw may have been in his over-action. -Jessica K.
I don't know if I agree necessarily that Hamlet's failure to act should be considered a tragic flaw. I remember reading in that packet by (Aristotle? Socrates? I can't remember) that a main part of tragedy is its unavoidable nature, and is enhanced when the reader knows what is coming while the characters are unaware. In that sense, the scenes involving Claudius plotting to poison Hamlet would set up the tragedy more effectively than Hamlet's failure to act. In fact, it was Hamlet's decision to act - when he shot who he thought was Claudius - that eventually led to his death. By killing Polonius, Hamlet encouraged Ophelia's madness, which led to her suicide, and enraged her brother, who was the one who poisoned Hamlet in the duel. So, it would appear that the source of all this tragedy, the very source of Hamlet's death in fact, is his rash decision to kill "Claudius."
ReplyDeleteActually, I think that Hamlet took more action than we suspect. For example, when told that his father's death was in reality a murder, Hamlet exclaims, "with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge" (I,v,35-7). This assumption of responsibility, him saying "my" revenge instead of say, "my father's revenge", suggests that Hamlet chooses to act, even when he is not obligated to. So, in using his madman shenanigans from this point onward, it is emphasized that Hamlet is acting throughout the play, propelling himself with every remark/action he makes. I would have to agree with Karen though, that his "tragic flaw" would be his mistaken murder of Polonius. If you think about it, his murder would appear to make Hamlet look even more mad (propelling his image) and to others (like Laertes) he looks even more worthy of death. Thus, his flaw may have been in his over-action.
ReplyDelete-Jessica K.