According to the Aristotelian view of tragedy, a tragic hero must fall through his or her own error. This is typically called the "tragic flaw", and can be applied to any characteristic that causes the downfall the hero. Shakespeare"s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark can be seen as an Aristotelian tragedy and Hamlet as it"s tragic hero. Hamlet"s flaw, which in accordance with Aristotle"s principles of tragedy causes his demise, is his inability to act. This defect of Hamlet"s character is displayed throughout the play. In the opening scenes of the play, the Ghost of old Hamlet reveals the truth about...
Hamlet. In the King"s attempt to kill Hamlet, he accidentally poisons the Queen. Laertes delivers the fatal wound to Hamlet with a sword dipped in a deadly poison and it is only with his final life breath that Hamlet finally kills the King. This does not mean that Hamlet has finally acted-he has only reacted to what is happening to him. If Hamlet had initially carried out his dead father"s wishes, the King could not have conspired against him, thus establishing that the play is indeed an Aristotelian tragedy, and that Hamlet"s tragic flaw is his inability to act.