Hamlet: Hamlet Defeated By His Own Flaws :: essays research papers

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.