Inconsistency in Hamlet Essay -- The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

William Shakespeare undoubtedly achieved one of his greatest characterizations when he created the role of Hamlet, in the tragic play Hamlet. Hamlets appeal to consultations almost certainly stems from his many gay helplessnesses. The one for which he is best known is hesitantness, but his inconsistency whitethorn well be an even more outstanding characteristic. T. S. Eliot, in 1932, wrote an leaven on Hamlet that is still cited as a noned unfavorable judgment of Shakespeares great tragedy. Eliot argued that Hamlet is an artistic affliction, due to a basic weakness in the play. It was his contention that a playwright owes a duty to the audience to write dialogue appropriate to characters as they have been developed in the drama. Eliot made the point that in the Closet Scene, when Hamlet confronts Queen Gertrude, his mother, in her bedchamber, his words demonstrate an animosity and a vindictiveness for which the audience is in all unprepared. Since Eliots charge against Ham let is self-evidently valid, actors and directors attempting to stage Shakespeares tragedy have struggled with the conundrum Eliots essay highlighted, both prior to and after its publication. The conventional approach in the 20th century has been to imply, on Hamlets part, a frustrated, incestuous love for his mother, which may justify the words Hamlet speaks, but for which Shakespeare gives no background whatsoever. As a result, rather than solving the problem, this approach creates yet a nonher inconsistency. Still, in spite of these inconsistencies, and in spite of Eliots accusation of artistic failure, Hamlet continues to fling the stage and fascinate theatergoers. If it is justifiable to look for logic and consistency in Hamlet, as Eliot did, one can find a far gre... ... clock illogical and inconsistent. All of these examples suggest, however, that the logic and consistency advocated by T. S. Eliot are not essential to a plays success, nor to its greatness and immortality . Eliots conclusion that Hamlet is an artistic failure is based on logic even more specious than that of the indecisive Prince of Denmark. A play succeeds because of its capacity to stir the feelings of the audience, to transport the members of that audience to places beyond the bounds of the theater and their daily lives. Audiences, whether those of today or of Shakespeares era, do not judge a play by its logical perfection. Hamlet, with all of its inconsistencies, evaluated on the basis of its emotional power, the majesty of its language, and by its seemingly timeless ability to move and enthrall audiences, remains one of the theaters ultimate masterpieces.