Aristotle's Poetics Applied to Hamlet

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Aristotle suggests the importance of diction in the work of a tragedy, claiming it essential in making the tragedy believable. William Shakespeare incorporates diction seamlessly as everything spoken by the characters is fitting for the role they are playing. An example being the king speaking like a king would speak, dodging conflict and being manipulative like a politician would do. The difference between the mannerisms of his speech is clear and purposeful relative to the mannerisms of the gravediggers. The gravediggers are commoners and speak as such, using common slang, vulgar language and unsophisticated vocabulary.

At some points in the play, Shakespeare does not stick to the aspects of Poetics that Aristotle has outlined. An example being when Aristotle claims a great tragedy must have unity of time, place, and action. In other words, the action of the play should take place in the amount of time that it takes to perform it. Everything should occur in one setting and one plot or action should be stuck to and developed throughout the entire play. Shakespeare does not follow all of these rules established by Aristotle. The play itself occurs over a large period of time and the action within takes place in a variety of settings and locations ranging from the palace to a simple plain in Denmark. Another deviation is the fact that multiple plots are developed at the same time. An example is that as Hamlet is troubled over the death of his father, Ophelia turns mad because of Hamlet’s negligence in exhibiting love to her or showing any interest at all. Ophelia in this scenario is another case of drawing pity from the crowd which is effective according to Aristotle’s Poetics.

Overall, Hamlet is an effective tragedy by the standards of Poetics as most of the guidelines are followed and the feelings meant to be evoked are certainly drawn out. This effectiveness is certainly demonstrated despite the few points at which Shakespeare deviates from the rules as any great work must not be a simple byproduct of rules, it is great because it is its own and unique. Even maintaining its uniqueness, Hamlet certainly serves its purpose as being a tragedy for the ages, especially approved by the heavy standards of one of the world’s greatest thinkers, Aristotle.

Sources

Shakespeare, William, Tucker Brooke, and Jack Randall Crawford. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. New Haven: Yale UP, 1947. Print.

"The Internet Classics Archive | Poetics by Aristotle." The Internet Classics Archive | Poetics by Aristotle. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2016.

Hamlet, |., and The Complete Guide And Resource. THEMES, MOTIFS AND SYMBOLS (n.d.): n. pag. Web.