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The ancient Greeks considered tragedy to be concerned with human suffering.

They created plays in which the main character or protagonist has a tragic flaw which leads to their death. Deep feelings are expressed on stage in an entertaining context. As Jennifer Wallace comments Tragedy is an art form created to confront the most difficult experiences we face; death, loss, injustice, thwarted passion and despair.1 This make the reader sympathetic for, we know the protagonist will experience harrowing events. Olivier stated that Hamlets flaw was that he was a compulsive procrastinator and to an extent he was correct. Unmistakeably, even in the first soliloquy (Act1/Scene 2) Hamlet shows that, physically and mentally he cannot operate in the present. For example, while he is despairing about his mothers hasty marriage to his uncle, he end the soliloquy with I must hold my tongue, which is an early indication that he procrastinates and does not tell his mother how he feels. Linking to Schlegels comment, Hamlet has no firm beliefs either in himself or anything else.2 Furthermore, in Act 2/Scene 2 the audience receives further evidence of Hamlets inability to achieve revenge. Moreover, he is very aware of his own inadequacies, when he compares himself to a fictional character, Hecuba, who he sees acted on stage. Hamlet is angry with himself as he cannot understand why he, the son of a father dear murdered cannot gain revenge, in-stead he admits to the audience that he is a drab, a scullion and questions his own abilities, Am I a coward? Who calls me villain? Shakespeare uses a series of rhetorical questions to show how Hamlet is questioning himself. T.S. Elliot comments, Hamlet (the man) is dominated by an emotion which is inexpressible3. Hamlet lacks courage and the confidence to carry out the instructions of the ghost; his language shows deep insecurity, as he says I am pigeon-livered and lack gall. Here the metaphor highlights his disbelief that he is an ineffective revenger, linking to T.S. Eliots comment, Hamlet had difficulties within himself to contend with.4 In Act2/Scene 2, the use of know also suggests an imperative. We hear Hamlet being decisive and confident. If he but blench, I know my course. Hamlet attempts to make the audience believe that he knows his course and will
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The Cambridge Introduction to Tragedy. Schlegel in Critical Essays On Hamlet. 3 Mr T.S. Eliots Theory of Hamlet. 4 Mr T.S. Eliots Theory of Hamlet.

surely catch the king out. He says,the plays the thing Wherein Ill catch the conscience of the king. The reader realises that Hamlet is, once more, putting off what he feels is his duty. Moreover, in Soliloquy 4 the audience gets the impression Hamlet is now resolute as he uses imagery of darkness and disease, such as, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out. This entices us to believe Hamlet may now be more resolute about what he is planning to do. Shakespeare uses caesura in Soliloquy 4, creating a dramatic pause to illustrate that Hamlet is now unstable. Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood. This is also a euphemism for killing. Interestingly Hamlet still cannot bring himself to actually say murder or kill. Although Hamlet is giving a resolute impression he also says Soft! Now to my mother. This is another indication that Hamlet cannot do anything; because cares for his mother, and also links to Hamlet being unable to tell her how he feels about her marriage. Hamlet delays once again, Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; As Bradley comments The first five words he utters shows that he has no effective desire to do it5. Hamlet struggles to convince the audience, and also tries to convince himself, that he will kill Claudius. Half way through the soliloquy Hamlet has yet not succeeded in doing anything. Up, sword and know thou a more horrid hent: However this may not be the only reason for Hamlets procrastination. We also have an indication that Hamlet is melancholic. We see his melancholy even in Soliloquy 1/Act 1, this too solid flesh would melt thaw and resolve itself to dew! Hamlet wants to become nothing. The word thaw indicates he is emotionally frozen, as well as too solid. As Hamlets father has not long been dead and his mother has remarried, this could also be a metaphor for his mothers feelings. He feels she has not mourned long enough over his father. Soliloquy 2 shows Hamlet admitting his flaw Out of my weakness and my melancholy. Hamlet fears he cannot carry out the commands of the ghost as he cannot rid himself of his melancholia. Furthermore, in Soliloquy 3/Act 3, we see Hamlet at a low point as he ponders suicide. To die: to sleep; Shakespeares use of caesura makes the reader pause as Hamlet pauses, putting emphasis on death. Hamlet repeats this; perhaps he is trying to convince himself that death is desirable. As Kate Flint comments, Because of its close connection with excitement or disappointment in love, melancholy offers a framework of explanation which at first can be made to
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Shakespearean Tragedy Lectures On Hamlet, Othello, King Lear & Macbeth.

explain and contain Hamlets behaviour6 We see him feeling very isolated throughout the soliloquy; this is a symptom of his melancholy, I, his sole son. Hamlet feels betrayed by his mother as he feels the throne is rightfully his. The word sole could perhaps be a pun. Sole can be read as only. But also as his fathers soul still lives, Hamlet feels the pressure to avenge him. Another reason for Hamlets procrastination, a symptom of his melancholia, is that he is filled with self-loathing. As Bradley comments, The truth is that, though Hamlet hats his uncle and acknowledges the duty of vengeance, his whole heart id never in this feeling or this task.7 as we see early in soliloquy 2. O, what rogue and peasant am I. It is ironic that Hamlet is a prince, but compares himself to a peasant. As the soliloquy progresses Hamlet expresses Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words Shakespeare uses a powerful simile; by definition a whore is a woman who may say words but she does not really feel the emotion. Hamlet explains that he cannot act with real emotion; he is only pretending to be a dutiful son. He goes on to call himself A drab, A scullion. This links to an earlier part of the soliloquy, as Hamlet again draws parallels between him and the poor. During soliloquy 6 Hamlet exclaims While to my shame. This quote shows Hamlet is not able to do anything about Fortinbrass invasion. Hamlet maintains he cannot do anything about it. This links to soliloquy 1/Act 1 where Hamlet compares himself to Hercules But no more like my father than I to Hercules. Hamlets self-deprecation is a symptom of his melancholia as we see throughout the soliloquys. Another possible reason for Hamlets delay is that he is a confused character. The spirit I have seen May be the devil: and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape; Hamlet was confused over the ghost, he wanted to make sure that the ghost was really the one of his father and not a spirit sent from the devil to lead him into a wicked act, as killing the king would be. Hamlet hopes that his father is in purgatory and that the spirit has not come from hell. Additionally in soliloquy 3 Hamlet shows ambiguity. Or to take arms against a sea of troubles He leads the audience to think he is confused; to take arms makes the audience wonder whether he is talking of taking his own life or killing Claudius, both of which would end the sea of troubles. As Bradley comments, It exhibits very strikingly his inability to understand why he has
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Katie Flint In Critical Essays On Hamlet. Bradley Shakespearean Tragedy Lectures On Hamlet.

delayed so long.8 Shakespeare purposefully puts To die: to sleep; in twice to show Hamlets confusion over what he is going to do. The fact Shakespeare uses repetition also shows the development of Hamlets madness. This also relates to Soliloquy 1 when he repetitively says within a month, A little month The fact that Hamlet repeats himself makes us wonder if he is a reliable source and if it was a month or if it was a shorter period since his mother remarried. Hamlet cannot bear to think of the latter, so thinks only of the former. Furthermore in Soliloquy 4 the audience obtain more evidence that Hamlet is confused. Such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on. Soft! Now to my mother. This is the most resolute of Hamlets soliloquys; he leads us to think he may be going to do something courageous but then there is great bathos when he uses the word soft as he has just been talking of blood and hell. This reinforces the audiences view of Hamlets confusion. Conclusively, I have found significant evidence of both sides of Laurence Oliviers claim. It can be seen that Hamlet was a procrastinator, and also shows strong evidence than he was melancholic and confused.

Shakespearean Tragedies.

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