Author(s): Varanjit Kaur

Abstract: This paper aims to explore William Shakespeare’s Hamlet as one of the most intense, profound, and complicated tragedies in the literary canon. The objective is to analyze revenge as the central theme in the drama through the lens of Aristotelian tragedy; to trace its origin and connections to the Senecan, and Kydian model of tragedy, with due regard to the socio-political conventions of the Elizabethan period. The Renaissance drama in English literature was marked with literary innovations, more nuanced characters and complex plots, a lot of which is credited to Shakespearean brilliance. This paper critically delves into examining Hamlet as a tragic hero, deciphering his tragic flaw, and philosophical dilemmas in his pursuit of vengeance, along with highlighting the ambit of drama that transcended the historical context, as a timeless exploration of the human nature.

Keywords: Revenge Tragedy, Tragic Hero, Shakespeare

Article Info: Received: 19 Nov 2024; Received in revised form: 21 Dec 2024; Accepted: 27 Dec 2024; Available online: 31 Dec 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.96.63