The Evil Hero in Hamlet and Macbeth

The Evil Hero in Hamlet and Macbeth

Works Cited Not Included

Although it is somewhat masked by Shakespeare, both Hamlet and Macbeth

are portrayed as pernicious, vile villains whose atrocities echo the

machinations of other conniving characters; they lose their heroism in

their blatant lack of repentance and ignorance of morality.

Hamlet himself states that even though "one may smile," he can also

"be a

villain" (Ham. 1.5.8), and he sacrifices human dignity in his

insatiable bloodlust by wishing the praying Claudius a "more horrid

hent" (Ham. 3.3.88). The alleged hero of the play is wickedly twisted

under the Avon Bard's representation of a vicious young prince who

fancies his shameless act of murder to transcend mere revenge, moving

towards the barbaric slaughter of an obviously distressed king. While

Hamlet is conniving new heinous plots at the instruction of the

audacious apparition, Claudius is crying out for "all [to] be well"

among "angels" and for a heart as "soft as sinews of the new-born

babe"

(Ham. 3.3.69-72). The previously evil king thus jilts this notion - he

is, at heart, seeking reconciliation and has a dream for a better

Denmark. Despite his obvious selfish interests in the kingship, it

cannot be overlooked that he maintains a sense of grief and woe for

his actions, yet Hamlet sees nothing wrong in his lumbering lust for

death. The people of Denmark, though they love Hamlet, cannot be

unaffected by the capricious cloak that he is using to deceive them

all. In his act of deception and murder, Ham...

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...is stalling reaches such extent that it is eventually

unclear wether Hamlet's immediate action of acting mad has not become

reality. For he would have to be mad to respond to those original

feelings of dismay, being disturbed, and distressed with mere

hesitation.

The only logical explanation to Hamlet's actions is self doubt. Since

he is unsure of himself, he cannot deem himself worthy of avenging his

father's death. Though he does meet his purpose, it is a lengthy

process of suffering for Hamlet and those who surround him that

proceed this end. It is obvious that Shakespeare has added this flaw

in Hamlet's character to create a more dramatic outcome of the play.

Moreover, the tragedy is made memorable through the frustration that

is felt by both Hamlet and the reader in long awaiting his ultimate

act of revenge.