HAMLET Essay, Research Paper

In William Shakespeare’s well known tragic play, Hamlet, the main character

Hamlet is defeated by his own flaws. These flaws are the killing of Polonius, the killing of

Claudius, and most of all by Hamlet being misled by the Ghost. The killing of Polonius is

a major flaw of Hamlets because it got him killed by Laertes. Also the killing of his uncle

Claudius was tragic, since he was his uncle and he made Hamlet very angry towards his

mother. The last and most noted flaw of Hamlet’s was him being misled by the Ghost and

engaging in his plan of madness.

The first of Hamlets flaws is the killing of Polonius. The death of Polonius was an

accident that shouldn’t have happened. Hamlet believed the person behind the drapery

was indeed Claudius. After Hamlet draws his rapier, runs it through the drapes, and kills

Polonius. He asks? “Is it the King?” He then he is drawn into a heated conversation with

his mother, Gertrude, over the short wait after old king Hamlets death for her to remarry.

He says “Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry his brother”. The major

effect of his killing of, Polonius, was indeed his death. This ignited Laertes’ revenge on

Hamlet which resulted in Hamlet’s death.

Just as the killing of Polonious was a tragic flaw of Hamlets, so was the killing of

Claudius. This flaw of Hamlets which was to be the solo revenge of Claudius brought

upon the death of Gertrude, Polonius, and Laertes. The madness in Hamlet was to be

unleashed only on Claudius. Yet Hamlet’s path of destruction killed his mother, she was

killed by the poison meant for Hamlet by Claudius. Laertes death was brought on by the

killing of Polonius. The duel between Hamlet and Laertes, which was the arranged

revenge on Hamlet, was the final stand of each.

Although the killings Hamlet carried out were flaws he possessed, another major

flaw was his ignorance in following the Ghost. Hamlet was warned not to follow the

Ghost that there must be some evil in him, but he didn’t listen. Both Horatio and

Marcellus forcefully try to hold back the prince, but he will not be restrained. Hamlets

following of the Ghost’s instructions to gain revenge on Claudius, corrupted his life. This

plot of revenge started his madness which led to the accidental killing of Polonius, the

killing of himself and Laertes, and also the death of his mother.

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet, the flaws in Hamlets decisions

brought out the worst. These flaws resulted in the killing of four close influential figures,

Gertrude, Laertes, Polonius, and Claudius. This play is a tragic play because the main

character’s life is taken for the satisfaction of one he loved.