Greek or Shakespearean Essay

The essential component to any tragedy, Greek or Shakespearean, is a protagonist with a fatal flaw. In Greek tragedy this is called hamartia. This Latin term translates directly into the word â€Å"flaw† but is usually used to describe an excess of a personality trait – virtue or vice. The protagonist’s fatal flaw pushes the the plot and action of the tragedy forward. It is this tragic flaw, which leads to the eventual downfall of the character, his circumstances, and the denouement of the drama. In examining the bulk of the literature’s protagonists, no other character embodies the essential role of the flawed protagonist like Hamlet. Hamlet’s fatal flaw is his idealism. Only once Hamlet overcomes his idealism is he able to seek his revenge. The climax of the play occurs with Hamlet’s realization that the world is not as it seems and that he must shrug off his idealistic values and avenge his father’s murder Act 3, scene 4. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, act 3 scene 4, is a pivotal scene within the play. The scene begins in the Queen’s chamber, as Hamlet slams the door open, with sword in hand. They engage in a dialogue of riddles combined with Hamlet’s mishandling of the weapon makes the Queen uneasy. Hamlet is upset at the Queen for marrying his father’s brother. The Queen screams â€Å"Thou wilt not murder me? Help, ho! † and as Polonius responds, Hamlet promptly shoves his sword into the curtain where Polonius hides and swiftly kills him. Hamlet wonders if it was the King, half hoping that it was Claudius, who Hamlet has been trying to kill the whole play. He fantasies about killing him, in the previous scene, he states â€Å"In th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed. † Hamlet is consumed by the idea of Claudius and Gertrude making love. Once he knows that he only killed Polonius he continues to scold him mother. She responds â€Å"†In th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed† and Hamlet replies † A bloody deed. Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother. † Again Hamlet contrasts the two brothers that Gertrude has become involved with. Hamlet must avenge his father’s death. In doing so he must not only kill Claudius but also resurrect his father. He does this by outlining how his father’s good qualities compare to his uncle’s bad qualities. Hamlet laments: Look here upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See what a grace was seated on this brow, Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself,. . . This was your husband. Look you now what follows. Here is your husband, like a mildew’d ear Blasting his wholesome brother. Hamlet contrasts the two brothers which he claims are completely the opposite. Hamlet believes that Gertrude might has mistaken one for the other. Hamlet continues to verbally assault his mother. Much of what he says is a rephrasing of Hamlet’s first solioquy, â€Å"frailty thy name is woman† as well as Hamlet aggressive behavior toward Ophelia in the nun scene. Act 3, scene 4 is the part of the play when the climax happens. Hamlet must first confront the cause of this murder, Queen Gertrude. It is within in this scene that Hamlet gets his first taste of vengenance and murder when he easily kills Polonius. After this murder, Hamlet decides he can and must kill his father’s murderer, Claudius. However, Hamlet’s leaves his mother alone because his father’s ghost appears and advises Hamlet to â€Å"Leave her to heaven†. Hamlet respects and loves his father in life and also in death and adheres to the ghost’s advice. Hamlet’s goal is to bring back his father’s reign not just by pointing out Claudius’ faults but also by humiliating his mother and her new world to trash. Hamlet continues: Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes? Hamlet is trying to convince his mother give up her new life with Claudius, to find her loyalty to her dead husband, and back to the way things used to be. Hamlet takes the role of â€Å"scourge and minister,† and tells her she can redeem herself from being a whore to being the good wife she used to be. Hamlet advises her to leave Claudius, â€Å"the moor† and climbs up on her dead husband’s â€Å"mountain†. Hamlet explains â€Å" throw away the worser part† of your cleft heart, Hamlet instructs her, â€Å"And live the purer with the other half. † However, Hamlet, as much as he wants to love his mother, can not get past his belief that she is responsible for his father’s death. It is important to note that this scene takes place in the Queen’s bedroom. The conversation symbolized Hamlet and Gertrude essentially â€Å"in bed† together and hints to a sexual relationship. Hamlet speaks like a jealous lover chastising his girlfriend for sleeping with a different man and making their bed â€Å"enseamed†. The Queen is extremely upset and actually asks Hamlet to help her figure out what to do. At this point when Hamlet should have told her to confess, he urges her to stop her relationship with Claudius, â€Å"Not this, by no means, that I bid you do: Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed† (Act III, sc iv). It is in the moment that Hamlet allows his emotion to dominate over his intellect that Claudius was killed. He is consumed by the thoughts of his father’s demise and is haunted by the knowledge that his father’s soul will not be able to rest until his death is avenged. Hamlet willfully concludes, â€Å"My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth† (Act IV sc iv). It is then that Hamlet finally had the ability to suppress his idealistic nature, and do what is right. The murder is not a well planned scheme and occurs in the heat of the moment. Hamlet, after the murder of Claudius never once wavers in his decision. He has done what is right and believes that â€Å"There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow† (Act V sc ii). Hamlet is able to do anything but take vengeance upon the man who did away with his father and has taken his father’s place with his mother. The pain which should have caused him to take immediate revenge was replaced by pity for himself. It is Hamlet’s idealistic nature that creates the ultimate theme and driving force behind all the rising action, falling action, and resolution of this tragedy as well as the death of his mother. The way in which Hamlet views his mother, father, and Claudius is finally revealed in Act 3, scene 4. Once Hamlet is able to be honest about his feelings, he is able to finally seek revenge for his father’s murder. This scene is pivotal to denouement of the play and essential to Hamlet’s transformation from a boy to man who embodies the important qualities which were cherished and expect by an Elizabethan audiences.