Shakespeare's Hamlet: A suitable tragic hero according to the standards set forth in Aristotle's 'Poetics'

According to the Aristotelian understanding of tragedy, the hero of the play must be capable of arousing pity in the audience. A nefarious personage, however, is not suitable for this role because the hearts of the audience are not likely to be moved by one who is heartless. Yet Hamlet appears to many to be just such a personage: he may seem upon a initial reading to be sadistic in his treatment of his girlfriend, his mother, his stepfather, the Lord Chamberlain, and his two schoolfellows. A closer examination of the play reveals that Hamlet, although he is not perfect, is an affable and noble character whose shortcomings do not render him vicious and unworthy of tragic heroism. His qualities can be properly understood only in light of the complexity and intricacy of his immeasurably exacting responsibility and his tender and delicate temperament. His melancholy not only provides a reason in itself that Hamlet is worthy of pity, but it also helps to explain why Hamlet fails. Upon examining the whole Hamlet in the context of the whole play, he emerges as the perfect embodiment of an Aristotelian tragic hero.