The Importance Of Aristotle's Tragedy In Hamlet

The play Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The play is about a Prince who was called from the school of Denmark to attend his father’s funeral. He was shocked to see his Queen mother already remarried to his uncle Claudius whom he suspects to be responsible for his father’s death. Hamlet then promised to take revenge on his father’s murder.
The play Hamlet is considered as Aristotle’s Poetics because it is a well written tragedy. According to Aristotle, the most important element of the tragedy is plot and followed by others such as character, diction, thought, song and spectacular. Aristotle defines tragedy as an imitation of an action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. Aristotle tragedy is not a narrative and but a purgation of pity and fear which causes catharsis of emotions. Hamlet follows this definition of effective tragedy. The play focuses on Hamlet’s mission to take revenge on his father’s death which is of a serious action and thereby fulfilling Aristotle’s definition of tragedy (Aristotle, n.d).

The play Hamlet uses diction appropriately according to the character. For instance, the King’s grand speeches and the language the common people speak. Hamlet plot is straight forward as we clearly know Hamlet wants to take a revenge on his father’s death. In Aristotelian tragedy, the protagonist must be good throughout and Hamlet shows that through his action. Song according to Aristotle is related to musical rhythm. For example, in Hamlet, sad background music is played on the Ophelia’s madness scene. Spectacular element is used well in the play Hamlet as the stage is well decorated and costume with according to the scene (Gonclaves,