Hamlet is the most popular play in terms of tragedy by William Shakespeare. This play was written around 1601 during Renaissance period. Hamlet as a drama involves many indecisive characters, murder, corruption and suspense. It resembles the traditional tragedy and strains the usual conventions of the genre. The notable point in the play Hamlet is the `dark path`. Hamlet embarks on that leads to catastrophe. This play is based on untimely death of the King of Denmark killed by his own brother Claudius (in order to seize his throne) and many innocent murders like; Ophelia, and Polonius.
Hence, Hamlet is the play based on revenge, as the other characters wants to take revenge, for example; Hamlet the Hero of the play wants to take revenge of his father, Laertes wants to revenge of his father and sister (Ophelia and Polonius), further, the play progresses the hatred become evident between many characters of the play.
Who is the responsible for all the circumstances? Well after one evident, two characters are responsible for the whole situation and tragedies are; Claudius (Hamlet`s uncle) who killed the king and marry to Gertrude (Hamlet`s mother) and Hamlet himself being a tragic hero of the play. Hamlet is one of the foremost Elizabethan tragedies in the canon of English literature.
Hamlet as a tragic play; is the popular tragic play and highly recognizable often quoted tragedies in all of English literature. Aristotle, who is concerned with the proper presentation of tragic plays and poetry defines tragedy as a representation of an action that is worth serious attention complete in itself, and some amplitude in language enriched by a variety of artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play presented in the form of actions not narration by the means of pity and fear bringing about the purgation of such emotions.
Shakespeare uses characters plot and setting to create a mood of disgust and a theme of revenge as opposed to fear and pity. Although, Aristotle would have disapproved Hamlet as tragedy. Elements like; plot, character, revenge and mystery used in the play as non- Aristotlelian way that makes Hamlet work as one of the English languages most renown tragedies. By proper revenge we refer to the Elizabethan view that revenge must be sought in certain cases for the world to continue properly. This is the main plot of Hamlet.
According to Aristotle, the element of plot shows us how he believes it must be put together as he believes in various unities which he states, are necessary for a proper tragedy. Aristotle believes in what he calls unity of plot. This unity leaves no room for supports, which are crucial to the theme of Hamlet. Without the support of Laertes and Fortinbras the play at the ending become pointless.
The three sub- plots together as a unit allows us to understand what Shakespeare thought of revenge. Another way Aristotle also defines the plot of tragedy as noble actions, it means that Hamlet should be a noble person.
For example; when Hamlet refused to kill Claudius during his prayer meet which forms the turning point of Hamlet being a tragic play. This signifies that Hamlet wishes to get revenge when Claudius`s soul may be damned and black as hell, that is why he didn`t kill him during his prayer meet. This ignoble act fully justifies the theme of proper revenge.
In addition, the play end with the death of Hamlet because Hamlet is in grieves of his father`s untimely death, and Gertrude`s marriage with Claudius, as a classical tragedy Hamlet traditionally, the story focuses on the tragic story of the hero in the play. Hence the Hamlet`s main plot revolves around the Hero being vengeance, who wants to take revenge at any cost.
Hamlet has been examined in the light of philosophical, notions such as appearance and reality or idealism versus pragmatism. The idea of death, decay and corruption has grabbed the reader`s attention. There is no doubt that Hamlet becomes the most tragic play, because Shakespeare has portrayed Hamlet as possessed in extreme melancholy, sorrow, fear and being emotional.
Throughout the play it can be seen that whole elements of Renaissance tragedies are all over, whether it is use of sub- plots, murder, comic relief, rhetorical speeches and ghosts. Eventually, all the characters die at the end and Hamlet is regarded as noble man.
Hamlet is considered as the most tragic and influential play by William Shakespeare, it his most notable work in the History of English literature. It is longest play. The play is popular for its ghost and vivid dramatization of insanity and melancholy.
The play has inspired many critics over the centuries. Inspired by Hamlet, directors has adapted the subject to make movies like; Hamlet by Kenneth Branagh in 1996 and Haider by Vishal Bhardwaj in 2014, this proves that how Hamlet is still popular as the most tragic drama by all time.
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