Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

Someone once said, “Grief is like living two lives. One is where you ‘pretend’ everything is alright, and the other is where your heart silently screams in pain” (Unknown Author). This poignant reflection encapsulates the essence of Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*, where the protagonist, Hamlet, is ensnared in the tumultuous aftermath of his father’s death. Hamlet’s journey through grief reveals the complexities of his character and the dual life he leads: one filled with public decorum and the other with private anguish.

Through Hamlet’s exclamations and mythological comparisons, Shakespeare deftly illustrates how the response to loss unveils the true nature of an individual. This essay will explore how Hamlet’s reactions to his father’s death highlight his inner turmoil and expose his character’s depth.

In Act I, Scene 2, Hamlet’s opening soliloquy is a window into his soul, revealing the magnitude of his despair. His lamentation over the impossibility of "self-slaughter" because it is forbidden by God (Shakespeare, 335-336) underscores his profound hopelessness. Hamlet’s yearning for death as an escape from his suffering is more than mere melodrama; it is an earnest expression of his mental anguish. The use of repetition in his wish that "this too too solid flesh would melt" (Shakespeare, 333-334) emphasizes his desperate desire to dissolve into nothingness, mirroring his chaotic emotional state. The repeated "too" suggests an overwhelming sense of excess, an emotional overload that he cannot contain within the bounds of his earthly existence.

Hamlet’s relationship with his father is central to his identity and aspirations. The sudden void left by King Hamlet’s death renders the world "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable" (Shakespeare, 337-338) to Hamlet. These descriptors convey a sense of futility and exhaustion, reflecting a world devoid of joy or purpose. His language not only communicates his personal grief but also invites readers to witness a young prince grappling with existential despair. This is further illustrated when Hamlet compares life to "an unweeded garden" (Shakespeare, 339-340), a metaphor for neglect and decay. The image of a garden left to grow wild correlates with the chaos that ensues in Denmark following his father’s death and Claudius’s ascension to the throne.

Shakespeare’s strategic use of mythological allusions serves to heighten the contrast between King Hamlet and Claudius. By likening his father to Hyperion, the god of light and wisdom, and Claudius to a satyr, a vile and lustful creature, Hamlet underscores the moral chasm between the two men (Shakespeare, 343-344). This comparison not only elevates King Hamlet’s stature but also casts Claudius in a shadow of depravity. Hyperion embodies the noble qualities Hamlet cherishes, whereas the satyr represents everything he despises. Through these mythological figures, Hamlet’s perception of his father and uncle becomes a lens through which he views the corruption and decay of his world.

Furthermore, Hamlet’s disdain for his mother’s rapid remarriage to Claudius is palpable. His reference to Niobe, who mourned her children’s deaths with unending tears (Shakespeare, 353), serves as a sharp critique of Gertrude’s fleeting grief. Hamlet’s bitterness is not just directed at his mother’s actions but also at the apparent betrayal of his father’s memory. His claim that even a "beast that wants discourse of reason" would have mourned longer (Shakespeare, 354-359) underscores his perception of Gertrude’s actions as inhumane and callous. This perception fuels his misogynistic view of women as weak, though it is deeply rooted in his personal anguish and disillusionment.

Hamlet’s self-comparison to Hercules further elucidates his internal conflict. Whereas Hercules is the epitome of strength and heroism, Hamlet sees himself as the antithesis: a scholar, not a warrior, caught in a web of indecision and doubt. This self-awareness of his own limitations adds another layer to his grief, as he feels ill-equipped to avenge his father’s death and restore order to his world. Hamlet’s struggle is not just with the external chaos in Denmark but with the internal conflict of his identity and duty.

In conclusion, Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* is a profound exploration of grief and its impact on the human psyche. Through Hamlet’s expressions of despair, mythological comparisons, and reflections on identity, Shakespeare reveals the duality of life in the shadow of loss. Hamlet’s journey is one of seeking answers and grappling with a world that has lost its moral compass. His reactions to his father’s death, his mother’s remarriage, and his uncle’s usurpation of the throne expose the depth of his character and the complexity of his grief. The play serves as a timeless reminder that the way individuals process grief reveals their true selves, and it challenges readers to reflect on their own responses to loss and the dual lives they may lead in its wake.

Did you like this example?

785

33