Is Hamlet really the hero of Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark’? At first the question might seem half witted and shallow. Of course, he is the hero of the text, its named after him! But is that all it takes one to be a hero? To simply be the protagonist of their eponymous play? It is easy to presume a protagonist as the hero, but this is not always the case.
However, we must first define hero. Oxford languages define hero as a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Hamlet, to me no more than a common man, possess none of these qualities. Hamlet is a coward and a failed prince, that behaves villainously through out this play. But he seemingly has generations of readers fixed on the fact that he is a tragic hero, like his story is the fall of a dignified prince. Making his villainy all the eviler. Now, I do not use the term villainy and evil lightly. Let me put forward some of the heinous crimes committed by our so called hero, Hamlet.
The first substantial iniquity committed by Hamlet in the play would be the cold blooded murder of Polonius. Hamlet sends a stake through the royal counsellor’s heart when he finds him eavesdropping behind a secret closet. Now you might say Hamlet is justified for slaying the ‘intruding fool’, who was listening in on a private conversation in between the royals. However, the very next line Hamlet ‘took [Polonius] for thy better’, insinuating the fact that he was hoping it was someone more important, the king. He goes on to say ‘Take thy fortune’ meaning Polonius supposedly got what he deserved. What hero would deem death as a suitable punishment for eavesdropping? Furthermore, Hamlet is in no place to look down on Polonius, as he had ‘intruded’ on Claudius’s private prayers in the scene that preceded. This very hypocrisy is defining trait of the villain Hamlet. Such disrespect of Polonius has persisted since his days alive. Hamlet, repeatedly bullies Polonius, calling him names like ‘fishmonger’ and is often ridiculing him for his age. Hamlet acts as such because he knows Polonius must hold is silence. It is common practice for Hamlet to look down social inferiors, even mocking Osric puts forward the invitation of his duel against Laertes.
Arguably a more appalling crime committed by Hamlet, was the murder of his lover Ophelia. It is common knowledge that Ophelia drowned herself, then how could Hamlet be responsible for her death? Ophelia is struck with feelings of desolation after her father is dead and the world around her seems to be crumbling down, all caused by her boyfriend’s madness. Hamlet is even harsher to his girlfriend than he is to Polonius. Telling her that ‘Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny’ meaning regardless how pure Ophelia acts, she will still get a bad reputation. To make matters worse he adds ‘if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them’ insinuating that Ophelia will not be able to marry a wise man as they know better than taking her hand in marriage. This attitude against Ophelia and the murder of her father leads her to eventually commit suicide. This indirect murder committed by Hamlet, further exposes his villainy and little regard for those around him.
Moreover, Hamlets wicked nature is once again revealed by his reaction to Laertes mourning a dead father, similar to Hamlet, as well as a dead sister. Hamlet is enraged at the fact that attention is given to someone beside him, ‘What is he whose grief bears such emphasis’, he cries. Although he has recited pages of self-absorbed soliloquies about his supposed pain that he feels after the death of his father. Depicting his true colours, a man unable to sympathise with those in the exact same scenario as him. Furthermore, he claims that he ‘loved Ophelia forty thousand brothers’. Despite this baseless claim, he never mentions Ophelia in the play again nor does he regret how he treated Ophelia.
Additionally, Laertes, in the same boat as Hamlet, plots the assassination of his father’s murderer, Hamlet. However, he is perceived as a villain and a ruthless killer with no morals. On the other hand, we as the audience are subliminally encouraged to advocate this idea of Hamlet killing his uncle as justice. Simply because we are seeing things through Hamlet’s eyes. If we followed the story of Laertes, would Hamlet be the villain? Therefore, a hero should be determined by his values and actions rather than our own personal bias towards the character.
Alas, before the play concludes, Hamlet like the hero he is has not only killed himself and those around him, but he has also let his country to be taken by external powers. The very thing his father worked so hard to protect. Hamlet did all this for what? To avenge his father supposedly. He put on this antic disposition that resulted in the death of his lover, Polonius, his lover’s brother, his mother, his uncle and lastly himself. A hero is supposed to bring justice, not suffering. Although he technically did avenge the death of his father, he also led his country to great instability and political chaos, killed a majority of the royal family and left thousands of people in distress.
This begs the question do ends justify means? Is it okay for the avengers to completely destroy New York to stop Loki? Or is it fine for Hamlet to kill his whole family and wreak havoc on his country to avenge his father?
To me ends do not justify means, as in this scenario true justice would have been killing or ostracizing Claudius and taking over the kingdom to run it in an honest way like old Hamlet would have wanted to. However, Hamlet did achieve this end partly, as Claudius was killed however Denmark was left in instabilty, using means that were excessively evil. Simba, a true hero, from lion king does what Hamlet could not in the same situation. As Simba also has a father killed by an uncle who then takes over his kingdom. Simba is also once again forced out from his home. However, when Simba returns he successfully takes over his kingdom whilst saving his mother and other loved ones. Unlike Hamlet. Reflecting the fact that it was indeed possible to get justice in Hamlet’s instance.
In summary, Hamlet is a self-obsessed, scheming, heartless and inconsiderate villain, for the reasons stated previously. However, he has painted this pitiful picture of himself, a painting so convincing that the whole world truly thinks of him as a tragic hero.
This is what makes Hamlet one of Shakespeare’s greatest villains.
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