hamlet as tragic hero

Name: solanki jayshreeClass : M.A.Sem : 1Topic : Hamlet as Tragic HeroPaper No: 1 Paper name: The Renaissance LiteratureSubmitted to: Smt S.B. Gardy M.K.Bhavnagar University

HAMLET AS TRAGIC HERO

Hamlet ,prince of Denmark.Heir presumptive to the Denis throne ,is depression – sricken and plunged into miserable by the recent death of his father and the “ o’erhasty” remarriage of his mother to her late husband's brother ,who has succeeded to the throne.

Hamlet’s sweetheart Ophelia and his former schoolfellow Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to discover from him the secret of his “antic behavior”. Before actually initiating his revenge , Hamlet wants to be sure it will hit the guilty person. To this end, he arranges for a company of travelling players to present a drama in the castle that will depict the murder of his father as the ghost has described it.

When the king sees the crime reenacted , he cries out and rushes from the assembly. This action Hamlet takes to be positive proof of his uncle’s guilt, and from this moment he awaits only the right chance to kill him.

After the play Hamlet visits his mother’s apartment, where he mistakes polonius for the king and kills him.

The killing of Polonius drives Ophelia mad and also convinces the king that Hamlet is dangerous and should be gotten out of the way.

He therefore sends Hamlet to England,accompaines by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, apparently to collect honor, but in reality to be murdered.

However,Hamlet eludes this trap by substituting the names of his one-time schoolfellows.

He reaches Denmark in time for the funeral of ophelia,who has it appears that downed herself.

Laertes , her brother ,has returned from Paris vowing revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father.

The king helps Laertes by arranging a fencing match between the two young men and seeing to it that Laertes’s weapon is naked and poisoned.

Laertes wounds Hamlet, the rapiers change hands ,and Hamlet wounds Laertes; the Queen drinksthe poisoned wine, and Laertesconcusses his part in the treachery to Hamlet, who then stabs the king to death.

All the principals are thus dead, and young Fortinbras of Norway becomes king of Denmark.

Tragedy ends with a funeral, which also celebrates a victory.

Thank you….