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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help
Dear Elaine,
Just coming off the top of my head, I think some of the characteristics of Hamlet's tragic flaw are, first of all, the fact that he vascillates. That is, he couldn't actually bring himself to do anything. He always chickened out. I think he mentions this in the scene where he sees all the soldiers.
The quote is something like "All those soldiers go to their graves like they go to their beds, but I can't even bring myself to follow out my promise" (I know that's not exactly the quote, but it goes something like that.) All tragic heroes are heroes because they have a flaw which they cannot overcome/control.
Hamlet's fear to fulfill his promise to his father is one of them. I hope this helps you; I'm sorry if I don't make any sense.
Posted by Steph on April 06, 1997 at 15:50:44
In Reply to "How/Why is Hamlet a tragic hero?" posted by Elaine on April 06, 1997 at 09:32:21
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help