Rochelle Puyot Literature 11 (7:30-10:30)

BEED 2A

Hamlet

Hamlet is first presented in the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, as

a young prince of Denmark and his quest to avenge his father’s death. According to
Shakespeare, tragedy depicts the operation of tragic flaw in hero's character.
Shakespeare shows how through his procrastination and impulsiveness Hamlet 's tragic
flaw results in his downfall. Flaws are what makes existence.

Hamlet was shocked to hear of his fathers' death and shocked even more when
King Hamlet 's ghost told Claudius the truth of his murder. Hamlet was furious with his
father, and promised that he would avenge his death, “Haste me to know’t, that I, with
wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.” The
play should have been over and done shortly after this, but Hamlet continues to drag
the vengeance out for quite some time by overthinking. A part of Hamlets is idleness
until he really is certain of Claudius.

According to Shakespeare’s tragic hero Hamlet’s fatal flaw is his failure to act
immediately to kill Claudius, his uncle and murderer of his father. His tragic flaw is
‘procrastination’. His persistent consciousness and doubt delay him in carrying out the
required. Finally, Hamlet kills Claudius but only after he knows he is poisoned. His
procrastination, his tragic flaw, leads him, along with that of the other characters he
seeks, to his doom. Fate, chance, and supernatural play a significant role of Hamlet as
well.

In short, he still suffers a downfall which leads to the tragic flaw. In the end, it's
too late when he finally decides to action and causes suffering for others, making him a
tragic hero as seen in the play. The throne is now owned by the different royals.
Sources:
Reddy, Indira, Tragic Flaw in Shakespeare's Hamlet (August 5, 2015). The IUP Journal
of English Studies, Vol. IX, No. 4, December 2014, pp. 93-97

"What is Hamlet's tragic flaw?" eNotes Editorial, 6 June 2007,

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-hamlet-s-tragic-flaw-387641. Accessed
8 July 2020.

https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-3568454741/tragic-flaw-in-shakespeare-s-
hamlet