Hamlet Hamlet Defeated By His Own Flaws

Essay, Research Paper

Hamlet: Hamlet Defeated By His Own Flaws

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.