In the same way Shakespeare is known for his plays, Hamlet is known for its tragic outcome. In tragedies, most of the characters die in the final act, leaving a stage littered with bloody bodies and a message about the tragic flaw that the protagonist possesses which leads to the ill-fated deaths. Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows this format to perfection.
Hamlet and the Death of Polonius
Hamlet is the protagonist of the play. After his father is killed, Hamlet becomes obsessed with discovering the truth behind his father’s death. He also faces questions about death, the afterlife and suicide, which cause him to go somewhat crazy. He balances on the brink of insanity. He begins to doubt all things in life and becomes irrational and impulsive on his quest for the truth.
This irrational impulse causes him to stab Polonius through the curtain without even knowing who it is. Although Hamlet is contemplative by nature, he is also insane and acts on this obsessive impulse. He is entirely to blame for the reckless death of Polonius. This is the first death that acts as a catalyst for the other two deaths that can be considered tragic in Hamlet.
Hamlet and the Death of Ophelia
The second death, the death of Hamlet’s love interest Ophelia, is caused by her grief for her father Polonius. Ophelia drowns herself in a river. Although Ophelia committed suicide and was not actually murdered by Hamlet, it is his actions that brought her to this dire state. The quick marriage of Hamlet’s mother to her brother-in-law (his uncle) causes Hamlet to lose complete trust in women and begin to treat them poorly. He denies ever loving Ophelia, rejects her completely, and denounces marriage in general.
For Ophelia, this pushes her over the edge as she feels like she has lost the man she loved and her father both within a very short period. Her only solution is to take her life. Therefore, Hamlet is indirectly responsible for her tragic death.
Hamlet and his Tragic Fate
Although Hamlet is impulsive towards some things, he is unable to act on impulse in other things, namely getting revenge on his uncle. His contemplative nature and inability to act on impulse is what gets him killed. He spends too much time thinking and speaking rather than actually doing. He contemplates “To be, or not to be: that is the question” so many times in his head that he misses his opportunities. He rethinks and discusses his options so much that it leads to his downfall.
Hamlet’s need for revenge leads him to a duel with his uncle Claudius and, after getting his revenge, eventually, to his own death. Again, although Claudius sends the fatal stab into Hamlet, it is Hamlet’s hesitation that brings him to that moment to begin with. Thus, on a certain level, Hamlet could be considered responsible for his own death.
Known for its questions on life and death, Hamlet focuses on several different tragic deaths and how they came to be. Hamlet is either directly or indirectly responsible for the death of Polonius, the death of Ophelia and the death of himself. His ill-fated nature fuels the entire plot and makes this play one of the best known tragedies in the world.
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