Using Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a case study, this paper aspires to delve into the notion of the tragic and discuss the Shakespearean character as a tragic hero. Specifically, the paper discusses the interpretation of the tragic within the classical dramatic tradition and explores parallels between Greek and Shakespearean tragedy. It considers critical arguments by classicists, such as H. D. F. Kitto, which have pointed out similarities and differences between the two genres. It also surveys more recent literature (Schleiner, Dewar-Watson) on Shakespeare’s acquaintance with Aristotle and the Greeks, as well as on the contested issue of his knowledge of Greek. It also explores the extent to which Hamlet as a character conforms to Aristotle’s specifications in the Poetics, regarding the tragic hero. In particular, it focuses on Hamlet’s ‘tragic flaw’ and identifies instances of hamartia, peripeteia and anagnorisis. Furthermore, the paper explores Hamlet as part of the Elizabethan genre of ‘revenge tragedy’ to point out salient generic differences and explore Shakespeare’s hero as the stock stage figure of the revenger, inspired by Senecan drama.
