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Hamlet Archetypes

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Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and there’s no question as to why. With heartbreak, murder, revenge, duels and secret plans, this play is filled with action and suspense. Hamlet’s tragic tale after his father’s death is one of great sacrifice and madness. The play is so complex that every character’s archetype could be discussed and argued endlessly, especially that of Hamlet. He faces a terrible tragedy (his father’s death) and has to evade multiple plans for his own murder while he tries to keep the promises that he has made, eventually doing so which causes a tremendous amount of death and destruction. Hamlet fits the archetypal description of a tragic hero and overall proves this through his actions, inaction, and thoughts …show more content…

The conflict between Hamlet’s action and his inaction shows his inner conflict and desperation. Hamlet refrains from killing the King (Claudius) while at prayer, showing Hamlet’s strength and resolve. In contrast, the killing of Polonius ensures Ophelia’s destruction which creates more pity for Hamlet seeing as he loved Ophelia and did not intentionally harm Polonius. He is able to evade all of Claudius’ plans, but in a sense he also kills Gertrude by telling her the truth of his father’s death, creating even more pity for Hamlet. Hamlet is sure that gaining revenge for his father’s murder will only end in death, so he questions what happens after death in his famous soliloquy, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (III.i.57). Here, Hamlet questions whether or not he should continue to suffer in life, or to leap into the unknown of death. He has felt so much pain and suffering that he is not sure if he wants to stay alive. All of these events combined produce a very tragic character who is conflicted and is not quite sure what to do. His inaction shows that he cannot come to a firm conclusion about his future, causing him to wait before taking his revenge against Claudius. These actions and inner turmoil therefore create an emotional stimuli within the audience (the effect of an archetype) which causes the audience to feel pity for Hamlet and therefore feel that he is in fact a tragic hero, searching simply for revenge but finding much more along the

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