See the new shakespeare.com. This feature, while it still provides useful information, is no longer maintained.

Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help

--------HAMLET: IS TRAGEDY DIDACTIC?---------

I need views on Hamlet's status as a tragic hero.

One view is that 'Hamlet' is essentially a close psychological
investigation of the effect of grief. The theory current at the
time of writiting supposed the mind to be composed of four humours
(eg. choler phlegm etc). There is evidence to suggest Shakespeare
was using this theory explicitly, and composed Fortinbras, Laertes
and Hamlet specifically to demonstrate the effect of grief on their
different characters.

I'm not convinced. Any alternatives to 'Hamlet' being purely
didactic in intent? The idea that Shakey wrote 'Hamlet' in this way,
carefully following a theory, seems to be just too dull.

Thanks in advance.

-----------------------------------------------------------dpdn

Posted by A C BRADLEY on April 15, 1997 at 04:05:55

 Replies

• melancholia Mak 05:24:46 4/15/97 (6)
  • Catharsis A C Bradley 05:38:39 4/15/97 (5)
    • chaos Mak 07:24:49 4/15/97 (4)
      • Horatio and Hamlet A C Bradley 10:11:09 4/17/97 (1)
        • fever Mak 03:54:49 4/20/97 (0)
      • Durer's dates A C Bradley 07:51:56 4/15/97 (1)
        • A. Durer 1471-1528 Mak 22:54:33 4/15/97 (0)

 Post a Reply

Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help