Asila Taalib

Mrs. Pasfield
English
1st hr

Tragic hero Characteristics

Hamlet possesses most of the traits of a tragic hero, but there are four
characteristics that truly represent Hamlet and his actions. In the story Hamlet,
whos the prince of the late king Hamlet tries to get revenge on his uncle Claudius,
whom murdered Hamlets father. In Hamlet, there are a lot of twists and turns that
occur because of the decisions that Hamlet decided. The four Shakespearean
characteristics of a tragic hero is: being a person of high position, possessing a
virtue trait that becomes a fatal flaw, suffering outwardly and inwardly, and blind to
reality. Hamlet has made some accomplishments, until Hamlet doesnt trust his
instinct, which leads into many tragic acts upon other characters and himself.

Hamlet is born into royalty making Hamlet the representation of how people
should act. With Hamlet having high position such as being a prince is one of the
characteristics that make Hamlet a tragic hero. Hamlet is the son of the late king
Hamlet and Queen Gertrude, both are rulers of Denmark. Ophelia describes Hamlet
as what Hamlet used to be, before he got insane, The Courtiers, Soldiers,
Scholars, eye, tongue, sword, the expectancy and rose of the four state (pg148).
Hamlet was raised to act like a prince or future king, so that he could lead the
common people into performing holy acts to make Denmark an organized,
respectful land. King Claudius believed Madness in great ones must not unwatched
go (pg150), basically stating that Hamlet shouldnt be left unattended because the
common people didnt need to witness Hamlets deranged behavior.

Hamlet has difficulty acting in the right moments making this another
characteristic of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Hamlet can be known as a late
bloomer, since he doesnt act in the beginning of the play, but begins to make
effort toward the end of the play. Hamlet planned on killing Claudius earlier in the
play. When Hamlet saw that Claudius praying (when he really wasnt), Hamlet
believes A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain
send to heaven , sword and now thou a more horrid hent: When he is drunk

asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed. (Pg186-188). Hamlet
doesnt have the intelligence to act when he needs or should of act such as killing
Claudius.
Hamlet starts to feel lonesome, since he barely can trust anybody, but his best
friend Horatio. When Hamlet tries to claim revenge on Claudius, it becomes very
difficult for Hamlet to achieve without hardly any support. Hamlet contemplates his
life To be or not to be, that is the question: whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer,
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against the sea of
troubles and by opposing end them (pg142). Hamlet is pictured as being insane,
since most people dont know the toll of information that his late father gave him.
Throughout the play, Hamlet is seen to have no idea of his actions and that hes
over reacting over his fathers death.

Hamlet gets side tracked with getting revenge that he doesnt recognize what he
does to people, becoming another characteristic of Shakespearean tragic hero.
Hamlet tries to kill Claudius and pretend to be deranged produces other issues in
the play, such as the deaths of other people in the play. One act that shows
Hamlets not conscious to reality is when Hamlet tells his mother that shes
basically a fool. Hamlet makes his mother think critically about her relationship
with Claudius In the rank of sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption,
honeying and making love over the nasty sty! (pg196). Hamlet begins saying
comments on issues that he wouldnt say aloud, which proves his unconsciousness
toward reality.

These four characteristics are what Hamlet represents throughout the play.
Hamlet has made some traits that could have been used to help accomplish what
he wanted which is revenge. Hamlets actions had led to extreme changes in the
play, such as the death of many innocent people.