Antigone And Hamlet As Tragic Heroes example essay topic

Aristotle once defined a concept of tragic hero, which should be a character with a flaw in personality or judgment that will lead this character to some actions resulting into disaster. In tragedies Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and in Sophocles Antigone main characters fit the concept of a tragic hero perfectly as they meet all of the requirements to be a tragic hero which are: a person of noble birth who occupies a powerful enough position to make choices which involve great numbers of people, decisions which can bring to entire catastrophe. Hamlet and Antigone also need to have a trait of goodness, but they cannot be perfect. These tragic heroes must possess some sort of flaw due to pride of a character and the destruction of each character is due to this flaw. The tragic hero must have a final moment of potential self-awareness, be a man of godlike prowess, and his goodness must come to be honored as divinity in death.

The most important thing to realize about Hamlet is that it was written for the stage. In other words the play was meant to be acted out, and our attention needs to be on the fact that Hamlet will require a different kind of reading, a reading were you can imagine what is happening on stage. On the live stage there is activity and motion; there is facial gestures, positioning of the actors, the color of the costumes, and size of the weapons. Things like this can only be seen if the play is read right, and to come across a play such as Hamlet in this type of reading is very important. It lets us see Shakespeares abilities as a dramatist, and also gives us a better visual understanding of the story. In Shakespeares Hamlet as well as in Antigone actions speak louder than words.

Particularly in Shakespeares Hamlet, we see that words can just about say it all. In the tragedy it is possible for us to see how the character of Hamlet expresses his concerns and feelings towards other characters through soliloquies. Hamlets words or thoughts expressed as a soliloquy seems to take on a more deep meaningful role. The point that is trying to be made to the readers is made more evident when it is spoken through the mouth of a strong willed character. One sees from the very beginning that Hamlet is a very complex and conflicted person, and that his tragedy has already begun. Hamlets anger and grief primarily stemming from his mothers marriage to Claudius brings him to thoughts of suicide, which only subside because of it being a mortal and religious sin.

Usually Hamlet analyzes all possible situations too carefully, which eventually causes him to procrastinate. This delay in the judgment allows Claudius to escape the revenge and to plot the overcome of Hamlet. The fact that Hamlet wants to take his own life demonstrates a weakness in his character. His decision not to kill himself because of religious beliefs shows that this weakness is balanced with some sense of morality. Such an obvious paradox is only one example of the inner conflict and turmoil that will eventually lead to Hamlets downfall. In addition to this internal struggle, Hamlet feels it is his duty to dethrone Claudius and become the King of Denmark.

This revenge, he believes, would settle the score for his mothers incestuous relationship and would reinstate his family's honor. These thoughts are solidified in Act I, Scene 5, when his fathers ghost appears and informs Hamlet that is was Claudius who murdered him, and that Claudius deprived him of life, of crown, and queen (line 75). This information leads to Hamlets promise to kill Claudius, while not punishing his mother for their incestuous marriage. His statement, thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain (lines 102 103), demonstrates his adamant decision to let nothing stand in the way of his promise for revenge. This promise can be labeled as Hamlets tragic decision, and sets into motion the beginning of his downfall. There was a perfect opportunity for Hamlet to kill Claudius just as Claudius killed King Hamlet, but young Hamlet once again intellectualized the situation and lost sight of his goal allowing Claudius to slip farther away.

The revenge Hamlet swore he would get was just a plan for the future until his chance arose. He was meeting his mother in her chambers as he passed Claudius' room, where the King was praying. As he knelt, praying Hamlet walked up behind him undetected with the perfect chance to take revenge of his fathers death. However, Hamlet again postponed this step. According to Aristotle's definition, tragic hero should have a final moment of potential self-awareness. Hamlets final moment of potential self-awareness comes in Act V Scene II.

Not a whit, we defy augury; there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, this not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now, if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what isnt to leave betimes? Let be (lines 218 222). Hamlet finally comes to terms with death and just accepting the situation for what it is. Hamlet knows he will die and he readies himself for this situation.

Another vivid example of this trait would be, when Hamlet prepares for his revenge. Hamlet would analyze the situation as usually, and would worry about justice and major consequences, but when he readies himself for death, this does not bother him..