Hamlet a tragic hero
The Arden Shakespeare edition of Hamlet introduces Hamlet as a tragic herobent on a paradoxical quest that makes action difficult. "The act he isimpelled to involves him in evil of the kind which he would punish. As theruthless revenger he exemplifies in his own person the evil which isinseparable from the good in human nature; as the reluctant revenger he cansymbolize the good's abhorrence of it." Following the death of his father, Hamlet is besieged with innerturmoil, grief, and anger. Although in some ways he reacts as any humanbeing would to the news of his father's murder, Hamlet soon becomesobsessed with death and with exacting revenge, an obsession which turnsHamlet into a complex and paradoxical figure. He feels compelled to avengethe death of his father after meeting the ghost, but never seems posed totake any concrete action. Because of his incessant moral questioning,Hamlet indicates that he is at heart a good man. He seems to realize thatbloody revenge will only lead to disaster, which may be one of the reasonshe stalls. However, his feelings of impotency and powerlessness, of fearand self-hatred begin to take over his consciousness. At the same time that
Thekilling of Polonius serves as the deciding moment in the play because nowHamlet has committed murder in cold blood. / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles," (63-66). Hamlet's quest for revenge was ultimately paradoxical, whichmade it impossible for Hamlet to think or act clearly. Moreover, Hamletindirectly kills himself in the process, leaving the fate of his country inthe hands of Fortinbras, a man who he knows only by reputation but notpersonally. For instance, in his soliloquy in Act III, scene I, Hamletponders the nature of life and death and of justice: "To be or not to be,that is the question: / Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / Theslings and arrows. Paradoxically, Hamlet orphaned Ophelia andLaertes, just as he himself was orphaned. KillingClaudius is no longer sufficient; now Hamlet feels entrusted withcondemning his uncle's soul to hell. Wanting to act inline with spiritual laws is one of the reasons why Hamlet neither acts onhis desire to kill himself and why he procrastinates on his paradoxicalplan for revenge. The play was in many respects asuccess: Claudius reacted with obvious horror, betraying his guilt. His constant thoughts aboutsuicide indicate that Hamlet would almost prefer to die himself than to bemorally stained with a murder he committed. However, Hamlet remained unconvinced. His anger was so misplaced as tolead others to experiencing the same grief he had. Hamlet reacts to the thought of Claudius killing his father andmarrying his mother by turning his anger onto himself. Hamlet's inner spiritual conflicts form the backbone ofthe entire play. The plan for revenge becomes even moreparadoxical as Hamlet wrestles with moral justice while at the same timeraising the stakes that claim his soul.
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