Rayat shikshan sanstha S. M. Joshi college Hadapsar pune – 28 Dept of English Class: MA -2 Topic: Hamlet as a Tragic Hero Mr. Suresh Bhosale

A High ranked Person He is the prince of Denmark. he belongs to a royal family. He has graceful and charming personality. He is a university student. He is very popular among his friends and also among the public. Claudius fears to harm him due to his popularity. Hamlet is a soldier and a scholar. he is an intellectual genius. He is generous and free.

Incapability of taking quick decisions Hamlet suffers from a defect his incapability for quick decisions. thinks too much and also feels too much. certainly capable of impulsive action but not of planned action. He is by nature given to reflection or meditation. The Ghost tells Hamlet to take revenge and he resolves to do so. but soon it occurs to him that he should verify the truth of the Ghosts information. So he arranges the play called " The Mouse Trap " It shows that Claudius is guilty. he misses the opportunity of killing his uncle when he is praying on the ground that he would go to the Heaven. This postponement of action constitutes the flaw in Hamlets character which chiefly causes his tragedy.

Conflict: Internal and External Conflict is the soul of the drama and is present in a Shakespearean tragedy. It is of two types - external and internal. In Hamlet, the external conflict is Hamlet(the hero) and Claudius ( the villain). Later on, it is also between Hamlet and Laertes who who wants to take revenge upon Hamlet. The inner conflict goes on in the mind of Hamlet. revealed in his soliloquies. His soliloquies contain the mental debate. " To be or not to be, that is the question".

Development in Character the hero generally comes to the realization of a truth of which he is unaware. transformation in the character of the hero . In the beginning, Hamlet is in a state of deep depression. In beginning the world is like " an unweeded garden". end of the play he changes. he no longer appears in a slovenly dress and apologizes Laertes.

Growth in Wisdom During the course of the action of the play. Hamlet grows in wisdom. In the beginning Hamlet is full of doubts. But gradually he realizes the truths. He cleverly saves himself from being killed by the English King and gets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed He is wise enough to arrange the Mouse trap. He cleverly receives cooperation of Horatio.

Mental suffering and death: Hamlet is a tale of suffering and misfortunes of its hero which lead to his death along the deaths of a few others. The suffering of Hamlet is strong enough to arouse the feelings of pity and fear. His suffering starts with the death of his father. He gets dejected to know that his mother has married his uncle only two months after the death of his father. His delay of action contributes to his misfortunes, he has to pretend madness. He loses Ophelia

Hamlet is great tragic hero. Hamlet does not lose our sympathy even for a moment. He keeps us constantly in mind of his real greatness.

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