Comparative analysis of Hamlet and Othello

Hamlet and Othello: Driven by Emotion

Hamlet and Othello are the two tragic heroes in the plays of the same name. Both Hamlet and Othello have an essential flaw in their characters and it is the flaw that leads to the tragic action of the play and their downfall. Another major similarities in the characters is that their flaws are emotional, where both characters do not have full control of their emotions and this allows them to be governed by their emotions.

Hamlet's tragic flaw is that he is incapable of taking actions. This is seen when his father's ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and asks Hamlet to take revenge. As soon as Hamlet is asked to complete this task, it is clear that he does not want to. He says shortly after, "the time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!" (I, iv). In saying this, he is not saying that revenge should not be taken against Claudius. Instead, he is complaining and wishing that it was not his responsibility to seek the revenge. This raises the question of why Hamlet reacts like this. He has just found out that Claudius murdered his father and he already knows that Claudius has remarried his mother. It would seem that this would be enough reason for someone to feel anger toward Claudius and consider taking action.

In his criticism and analysis of the play, T.S. Eliot provides an explanation for this. He says that "Hamlet (the man) is dominated by an emotion which is inexpressible" (Eliot 7). This includes that Hamlet himself is not aware of the emotions that are driving him. These emotions are related to his mother's actions and her marriage to Claudius. He is both disgusted and ashamed of his mother's actions and the strength of his emotions goes beyond what seems justified. This leaves Hamlet having to deal with his emotions, while not being able to deal with the source of his emotions.

This results in Hamlet's emotions building. T.S. Eliot also describes Hamlet's madness and says that "the levity of Hamlet, his repetition of phrase, his puns, are not part of a deliberate plan of dissimulation, but a form of emotional relief" (Eliot 8). The turning point of the play then occurs when Hamlet strikes out in anger and kills Polonius, believing him to be Claudius. At this point, Hamlet seals his tragic fate. The most important point is that Hamlet is acting irrationally when he takes this action. At this point, his emotions build and take over him so that he is consumed by anger. The rational part of Hamlet that has stopped him from taking any action is lost for a short time, and the result is that he kills Polonius. This can be considered as Hamlet finding a release for the emotions that have built to the point that they take him over completely. This shows that Hamlet's tragic flaw is related to an inability to deal with his emotions, which leads to his irrational actions.

Othello's fatal flaw is also related to his inability to deal with his emotions. The difference is that Othello's emotions are jealousy associated with his wife, not shame associated with his mother. Bradley describes this by saying that "Othello's nature is all of one piece... Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must leave or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-night incontrollable flood" (Bradley 188). This shows how Othello goes to the extremes, especially relating to his emotions. Bradley also says that "He is quite free from introspection, and is not given to reflection. Emotion excites his imagination, but it confuses and dulls his intellect" (Bradley 188). This shows that like Hamlet, Othello is not able to consider the source of his emotions. This occurs as a natural part of Othello's character, while for Hamlet it is specifically linked to the particular situation and the particular emotion. However, the end result is the same with both characters unable to consider their emotions and rationalize them. The end result for both characters is that they become driven by their emotions. This occurs for Othello as he becomes easily convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful. It is important to note that this belief is based on very little real evidence. It is also important to note that even though Othello asks for evidence before he believes it completely, there is a part of him that believes it immediately. Otherwise, it would have been likely that he just would have ignored Iago initially or asked Desdemona. Instead, Othello goes along with Iago and allows himself to be convinced. Then, with only a small amount of evidence, Othello accepts that Desdemona is unfaithful. The extreme nature of his reaction is seen where he says to Desdemona, "I took you for that cunning whore of Venice that married with Othello. You, mistress, that have the office opposite to Saint Peter, and keep the gate of hell!" (IV, ii). This shows he is has become completely consumed by his jealousy, with this emotion ruling him completely. The jealousy has also made Othello incapable of rational thought, since is he considered the evidence rationally he would see that there is no real proof that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Like Hamlet though, Othello is not able to think rationally or consider his emotions, instead allowing them to define him completely. It is this that leads to his tragic downfall.