Friday, March 19, 2010
B Bell - Shakespeare- David & Emily
A tragedy is defined as a dramatic composition dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. Using this definition, analyze Shakespeare's plays, more specifically Hamlet, and in what aspects they are a tragedy. Use specific examples.
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11 comments:
The most obvious answer would be that Hamlet is a tragedy because of the ending in which seemingly all of the major characters die. However, in my opinion, the tragic part of the play is the loss of innocent life caught in the cross-fire of revenge and deceit. Both Ophelia and Gertrude are sympathetic towards Hamlet, even though it takes them a while to reject the King’s influence over them and begin to think for themselves. Sadly, Gertrude becomes the victim of the King’s plot to kill Hamlet, which possibly serves as a punishment of sorts for the King. However, we get the impression that the King quickly dismisses Gertrude’s death in order to focus on killing Hamlet and saving himself, which implies that Gertrude dies for nothing. Ophelia, on the other hand, is seen as a sinner by several characters because she commits suicide. In a Christian perspective, Ophelia’s honor would be tarnished, but we as readers cannot help but feel sorry for her and what she’s had to go through. We may wish that she had not killed herself, but we understand her situation and are more emphatic towards her than how the other characters seem to feel. Lastly, I think that the most tragic aspect of the play is the moment when we learn that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. Not only did they die because of Hamlet’s mission for revenge, but they die undeservingly because they love Hamlet and they only want to help him. Furthermore, the fact that their death seems to be a thought in passing makes their case even more of a tragedy.
Aristotle has noted that within a tragedy the main character must be "admirable yet flawed." This description fits Hamlet as he his driven by his desire to avenge his father's name. Ophelia is also a tragic character since her love and misunderstanding of Hamlet drives her to suicide, as Gary noted previously. Each character dies by the hand of some misunderstood complication, leaving the audience with a feeling of sympathy for each of the characters. This trait is also shared with many others of Shakespear's plays including "Romeo and Juliet," "King Lear," "Macbeth," "Othello," and "Julius Caesar," just to skim the surface.
Great comments so far!
If you're aching for something to write about and you've read a fair bit of Hamlet, I'd like to draw your attention to part of the definition: "a great person destined through a flaw of character or ... some overpowering force ... to destruction." Just from what you've read so far, what do think Hamlet's "fatal flaw" would be?
In order for a play to be a tragedy there must be a tragic hero. Hamlet is obviously the tragic hero in the play Hamlet. Hamlet possesses all the qualities it takes to be a hero, such as bravery, confidence, and loyalty (to his father). One of Hamlet's flaws was that he did not really take initiative. He did take risks by going to England but he never killed Claudius, even after he was sure Claudius killed his father. Another example of his procrastination is that he dated Ophelia for so long and never got around to marrying her or finalizing any plans.
Hamlet is a tragic play because it fits this general theme so well. Prince Hamlet is the heir to the Danish throne and leads a comfortable life. He's then driven to kill by a ghost, and this becomes his sole purpose throughout the play. This initial conflict sets off a firestorm of other conflicts that whittle Hamlet's nerve and eventually drives him into brash mistakes and decisions.
In another of Shakespear's plays, Romeo and Juliet, the main characters are also driven to suicide by a series of misconceptions and political fighting, although in Romeo and Juliet the fighting is between two families instead of two nations, as it is in Hamlet.
Through the definition of a tragedy, you could claim that one or more of the characters has a fatal flaw. Specifically, Hamlet seems to be that character. In his case, his curiosity got the best of him. He sits and contemplates, and muses and ponders until there is no use acting. When he finds out that Claudius killed his father, he didn't do anything because he wanted to be sure without a shadow of a doubt that it was him. Also, he questions suicide and life and all the jazz for a while, but never makes a decision to go through with anything. Hamlet is just too indecisive.
Examples of tragic devices in the plot of Hamlet are plentiful. Aside from the obvious tragic aspects of the plot (e.g. the various murders and deaths), one example of tragedy in Hamlet is Hamlet's mental state. Throughout the entire story, Hamlet is severely melancholic and yet he attempts to feign insanity in order to investigate his uncle. Although his plan is only to feign madness, he starts to show signs of actual insanity. When Ophelia confronts Hamlet, for instance, he acts immaturely and erratically, and lapses further into depression. Hamlet's volatile mental state is one of his several tragic flaws which cumulatively lead to his doom.
By definition of "a great person destined through a flaw," Hamlet immediately fits the mold of a tragic character. He is a prince (and should be king) yet he is unnecessarily sassy. While the situation with his mother and his uncle and his late father is unfortunate, his attitude is definitely his biggest flaw. Instead of being ably to coherently develop a plan to kill his uncle-now-step-father to avenge his father's death, he beats around the bush, questions himself, thinks of suicide, etc. The stage of a tragedy is set with the death of Hamlet's father before the start of the play, and is followed through with the unnecessary deaths of Ophelia, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Lives are lost for the mere indulgence of a a crazy person's obsessive compulsive thoughts.
The greatest tragedy in Hamlet is Hamlet's loss of self. The various betrayal's in his life cause Hamlet to lose sight of what is truly important to him and his morality. The more lost he becomes, the more obsessed Hamlet becomes with introspection. This self-obsession is Hamlet's tragic flaw. Though his supposed goal is to kill his uncle, Hamlet's judgment is so clouded that his plans go awry. He ends up killing innocents.
This is the great tragedy in Hamlet: the loss of Hamlet's self.
The greatest tragedy in Hamlet is Hamlet's loss of self. The various betrayal's in his life cause Hamlet to lose sight of what is truly important to him and his morality. The more lost he becomes, the more obsessed Hamlet becomes with introspection. This self-obsession is Hamlet's tragic flaw. Though his supposed goal is to kill his uncle, Hamlet's judgment is so clouded that his plans go awry. He ends up killing innocents.
This is the great tragedy in Hamlet: the loss of Hamlet's self.
Gary - excellent analysis of the tragic demises of the myriad characters in Hamlet!
Mary - yes, many, many misunderstood complications!
Emily M. - Hamlet is indeed a tragic hero!
Hunter - good emphasis on the many conflicts.
Yousra - that's Hamlet: sits, contemplates, and muses!
Ray - absolutely! I do think he actually becomes mad!
Keely - I do believe that Hamlet is obsessive compulsive.
Diana - big tragedy with loss of Hamlet's self!
David - excellent redirection - perhaps some additional redirection and a final comment would have been even better!
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