Through his own faults, Hamlet is responsible for his downfall. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Who Is Responsible For Hamlet's Downfall | ipl.org He does not understand why his mother married Claudius in such haste, causing such internal torment for himself. Had he not killed Polonius, Ophelia might not have gone crazy and died, herself. This highlights how the simple task of decision making is burdened with this necessity to think, and how this leads to our actions becoming erratic, as Hamlets do, so therefore many cite this internal flaw of over thinking as the reason for his downfall, and not any external factor. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hamlet did not realize what was going in his life and always hesitated because of issues that he had within. https://www.enotes.com/topics/hamlet/characters. His decision not to act starts a trend of procrastination, and these decisions of inactivity will continue to be the main source of his problems throughout his speeches and the play., Likewise, in Hamlet's second soliloquy, Hamlet's inability to kill Claudius demonstrates that Hamlet is not only a contemplative person, but also a cautious individual that excessively analyzes situations. He doesn't want to do Claudius the "favor" of sending him to heaven. Which of his flaws can be considered the tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. The play, Othello, is a twisted tale of deceit and revenge. In this play, it leads to a stage full of dead bodies at the end. Hamlet knows that if he kills Claudius now, Claudius will go to Heaven. These soliloquies give us an insight into the intentions, thoughts and feelings of Hamlet at different stages of the play, and these are very crucial to the development of his character. Is Hamlet to blame for the tragic ending? This kind of "honor killing" mentality seems to create more problems than it solves. Claudius married his brother's wife and became king. He over contemplates, and misses chances to achieve his goal of seeking revenge on King Claudius. Hamlet putting on an antic disposition distresses Ophelia further. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This would not be proper revenge in Hamlet's mind, because Claudius had killed his father, King Hamlet, while he was not in a state of grace, but merely napping. However, according to the rest of medieval society, this makes Hamlet a cowarda lame, wimpy loser who is too scared to face danger and make a name of himself. EssaySauce.com is a free resource for students, providing thousands of example essays to help them complete their college and university coursework. A.C Bradley explains this role that fate plays as the powerlessness of man and of the omnipotence --perhaps the caprice-- of, fortune or fate, which no tale of private life can possibly rival.Therefore this again emphasizes that although Hamlets internal flaws play a role in his downfall, there is an element which he cannot control, and this interaction between these two forces prove the source of his downfall. No plagiarism guarantee. Though he expresses disgust over Claudiuss inferiority to his father and his hasty marriage with Hamlets mother, Gertrude, Hamlet more strongly detests his own procrastination in avenging his father. So, what is Hamlet's vicious mole? Therefore, Hamlet's father must walk the earth as a ghost. His father came back as a ghost which caused more trauma because he was not expecting to see him again. Hamlet did not realize what was going in his life and always hesitated because of issues that he had within. With this much discord in his mind, and already under the extraordinary pressure of grief from his father's death, his mother's marriage, and the responsibility bequeathed to him by the ghost, Hamlet is understandably distraught. Jul 14, 2022 1:46 PM EDT The Death of Hamlet's Father Struggling to understand what caused Hamlet's tragedy? And yes, he has lots to think about: the ghost, his mother, his uncle, his girlfriend, revenge, life and death. How is Hamlet responsible for his own death? - YouTube Here it is shown the role that the internal role that Hamlets flaws play in downfall, but it is worth noting the relationship this aspect has with the role an external factors such as fate plays, so yet again this combined interaction between internal and external forces is what proves to be the reason for Hamlets downfall. According to this view, Hamlet is disturbed and eventually deranged by his Oedipal jealousy of the uncle who has done what, Freud claimed, all sons long to do themselves. He felt as if he was nothing compared to his dad and he thought less of himself. Hamlet often chooses to complain about his life, rather than act upon his dissatisfactions. But to endeavor to reach any answer, whether that answer is satisfactory or not is another issue, to the riddle of Hamlets character without probing into his soliloquies is a hard pill to swallow. Who Is Responsible For Hamlet's Downfall - 374 Words - StudyMode A much larger share of the responsibility belongs to Claudius. Hamlet's downfall was a tragedy doomed to occur. When identifying events which arise as a result of pure chance, which also lead also to the downfall of Hamlet, it becomes inherently clear that this factor plays a role in Hamlets downfall as well. He overthinks most situations; this in turn causes him to continually postpone Claudius death: Nevertheless, Hamlet acts impulsively when the situation is least optimal for him to do so. While the players are acting out The Murder of Gonzago, Hamlet impulsively gets out of his chair and joins the play. He had the constant battle on whether he should just kill him or find out the truth. How does Hamlet treat Ophelia during the play? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Hamlet's decision not to kill his uncle/stepfather, King Claudius, while the man is praying certainly helps lead to his own demise as well as others'. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Download the full version above. Because he worries about sin and its consequences, Hamlet does not want to kill anyoneincluding, he finally decides, himself. Examples gross as earth exhort me: / O, from this time forth, / My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! (4.4.203). This shows that he is no longer in such a rush to avenge his father's death by killing his uncle Claudius., Throughout William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark is set on his goal of achieving vengeance and justice for his fathers murder, without the realization that his obstinate aspirations eventually lead to his own downfall. Hamlet loses his own life, but his sacrifice is not in vain, for tyranny will no longer rule Denmark. Who is at fault for the deaths in Hamlet? - ProfoundQa Hamlet is responsible for his downfall to the extent that his indecisiveness and inaction, along with the actions of characters who conspired against him and events over which he had no control . How many deaths are in Hamlet? - Sage-Answers And now he is a-praying. To What Extent Is Hamlet, The Tragic Hero Of The Play, Responsible For Hamlet the character, as well as, the play has, very often and rightly, been referred to as a riddle by learned critics, and there have always been attempts to solve this riddle. To What Extent Is Othello Responsible For His Own Downfall? Yet, though his first instinct is to seek revenge, Hamlets character at this point in the play is one of virtue and integrity, fearing the consequences of his actions. These Literature essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies. Ultimately, it is Claudiuss secret poisoning plot that leads to the last round of deaths. For example, many have called into question the role played by fate, instead of the sole role of Hamlets flaws. Let me explain. This argument resonates strongly as Hamlet is put into the events and circumstances by the actions of others and seems as though his fate as the tragic hero is sealed before he is even aware of it. ", Latest answer posted December 25, 2020 at 10:45:45 AM. He's the one who killed Hamlet's father, took the crown, married the queen, and tried to kill Hamlet. If the duel never took place between Hamlet and Laertes, then Gertrude would not have drunk the poisoned cup meant for Hamlet. A tragic hero as defined by Aristotle, is a character who makes a judgement error that inevitably leads to his or her own downfall which is portrayed by Okonkwo towards the end of the novel when he takes his own life. The brightest students know that the best way to learn is by example! For example, many have called into question the role played by fate, instead of the sole role of Hamlets flaws. Hamlet wants to avenge his fathers death but procrastinates murdering Claudius on multiple occasions. The decision of, Hamlet truly is a procrastinator, and also a master of his own fate. It does not store any personal data. Hamlet is the hero in the main plot (against Claudius) and all of the subplots (against Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Laertes, etc. Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Plays / Hamlet. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Words without thoughts never to heaven go. Depression negatively affects how one thinks, feels, and acts and causes feelings of sadness. One of Hamlets most dominant flaws is that he over analyzes most situations that he is put in. In act 1, scene 3 of Hamlet, what is Polonius's advice to Laertes? Shakespeares protagonists in all of his works cause their own downfall in one way or another and Hamlet, in every sense, is no exception. Despite A poet conveys diverse information, often tackling sensitive topics affecting the public. This is furthermore supported when Hamlet is given a golden opportunity to attain vengeance for his father, but does not kill Claudius, the king of Denmark, for Hamlet mistakenly assumes that Claudius is praying., Yusheng Qin Analyzes how hamlet is melancholy and indecisive, trying only to take revenge on claudius, at which he fails for lack of an opportune time. Hamlet suffers keenly from the loss of his father, but understands that his personal grief must take a backseat to his efforts to solve the nations problemsto eradicate the rot in Denmark. If Hamlet had acted then if he had only known the whole second half of the play would not have unfolded as it did.