Hamlet and his Tragic Flaw

Essay by Ryan YatesHigh School, 11th gradeA, March 1997

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Question: Does Hamlet have a tragic flaw? If so, what is it and how does it effect his surroundings and how does it effect Hamlet himself? What is the outcome of his flaw?

Hamlet has a tragic flaw in his personality and behavior. His flaw is that he is overly concerned with death and tragedy. This flaw or weakness in Hamlet leads him into a world of chaotic surroundings and madness. Hamlet's flaw and his mad personality led to the death of several people, including his mother and the King of Denmark! If Hamlet did not have this fascination with death and tragedy, the deaths of the several people would not have occurred--including his own.

Hamlet did not always have this flaw in his personality. The flaw was presented to him by a ghost. The ghost of Hamlet's father told Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and asked Hamlet to avenge his murder.

This is where the flaw is adopted by Hamlet and begins to effect his life. Hamlet begins to dig deeper and deeper to find the truth. He puts on an act of madness to disguise his revenge. Hamlet becomes so over-whelmed with death that death is all he thinks or cares about. The death and deception burn into his heart like a hot branding iron to a steer. Hamlet's flaw is intact. Hamlet has a friend, Horatio, who knows of the murder of Hamlet's father. Hamlet could trust Horatio with his plans and opinions. Horatio acted as an advisor to Hamlet, but he did not tell Hamlet that he was heading in the wrong direction. Because of this Hamlet's heart pounded hard with the thought of revenge. The flaw was there and the stage was set for tragedy. There was no way for Hamlet to change...