A Typical Tragedy

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare is a typical Shakespearean tragedy. Although Shakespeare's style and prose seem complicated to many, a Shakespearean tragedy's plot is very simple. It consists of a protagonist, or main character, and his/her flaw. Throughout the story, Hamlet tries to avenge the murder of his father. He spends countless hours thinking of a plan to get revenge on Claudius, the murderer. Based on the reader's perspective, one could think of either Hamlet or Claudius as the "flawed" protagonist. In Hamlet's case, one could say that his flaw was the want to get revenge on Claudius, and that once he killed Polonius, it became much more easier for him to fall into a killing spree. In Claudius's case, one could argue that he was flawed from the start, when he killed old Hamlet. This caused him to go into a downward spiral from the beginning, constantly living a life of traitrous pleasure. In normal Shakespearean tragedies, the protagonist, at the end of the story, will be at his or her most diminished, destroyed state.
elements of a "mind" tragedy

What I found to be the most tragic part of the whole play was the fact that Hamlet put in so much effort and basically drove himself crazy to avenge Claudius, but he never even became king. As he tells the "wretched queen, adieu", one thinks he simply says his last goodbyes (V.ii.365). But on the inside, he is dying at the fact that he never became king. I think he knows it too, that the worst part about fighting for revenge was really getting nothing out of it. All that time and effort he spent had been thrown away in a matter of seconds. The fall of Hamlet, to me, was more important than the fall of Claudius.

To be, or not to be

I looked through YouTube for a few To be or not to be soliloquys, and these are the ones I found. In the first, Hamlet is acting his speech out, and this aides him in getting into character easier. His voice almost echoes through the air, and it goes really well with what's going through his mind at the time. In the second video, however, Hamlet is not acting. I think the emotions and facial expressions of Hamlet make up for this, though. He is expressive and clear when stating his internal thoughts, and punctual when expressing his concerns and desires. The first Hamlet really shows his struggle and his stress externally, while the second one is more internal. I prefer the second one because I appreciate how much skill it requires to do such an emotional soliloquy without physically acting.

Villain Villain

Hamlet's soliloquy at the end of act 2 scene 2 explodes of anger, hatred, and emotion. Hamlet calls Claudius a "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!" (II.ii.608-9). This quote highlights Hamlet's rage and emotion against Claudius. He committed treason drived by lust and greed, and betrayed his country all for his own benefit. He shook the well being of Denmark: an act only a villain would commit. Hamlet is correct by raging on Claudius. Hamlet has all the right to be mad. A person who I thought of who is always mad is Dr. Doofenschmirtz, the ultimate villain.