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Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

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Hamlet as a Tragic Hero
Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

The story Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a tale of a young prince of Denmark who seeks revenge. His father who was the king of Denmark was killed by Hamlet’s uncle Claudius. Hamlet was a good soul who just lost his father, so he didn’t quite know how to react. Hamlet attempts to be a hero and save Denmark from having a king who killed his own brother just to take the throne. But Hamlet’s hatefulness and indecisiveness leads to his downfall. But in the end, Hamlet manages to get his revenge but at a heavy cost.

Hamlet lived the normal life of a prince until his father passed away. But what really caused him to go over the edge was finding out his father was murdered in cold blood by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. This caused Hamlet to become a very hateful person, “Haste me to know’t that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.” (I, V, 35-37). Later in the play Hamlet did avenge his fathers death, but at a hefty price.

Hamlet still had a couple of positive traits. Once Hamlet knew for sure that Claudius killed his father he began to feel a bit concerned for his mother. He lost his father and did not want to lose the last thing he had to live for which was his mother. “This was your husband. Look you now what follows. Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?” (III, IV, 73-75). Hamlet was also not a fool, he was extremely clever. “I had my father’s signet in my purse, which was the model of that Danish seal; folded the writ up in the form of th’ other, [subscribed] it, gave th’ impression, placed it safely, the changeling never known. Now, the next day was our sea-flight; and what to this was sequent thou knowest already.” (V, II, 55-62). The king sent Hamlet along with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with a note so that Hamlet could get executed. But Hamlet swapped the notes having Rosencrantz and Guildenstern executed

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