Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Frye's Link to the Key Question: Why must Hamlet Die?

Although there are many scholars that have analyzed Hamlet in-depth the one that stands out to me is Northrop Frye. I have always fel that there must be a set of rules or standards that characters could be compared to, instead of over complicating and analyzing everything if there was a way to systematically analyze such works of literature it would make things much easier to understand. By using Frye's concepts and realising that High Mimetic tragedy is a specific mode that Frye has outlined helps to make connections in the story. By going over the mode and using its systematic procedure you realise a lot of background things occuring that otherwise I would most likely have overseen and not understood its significance to the story. In relation to the lingering question, "Why must Hamlet die?" Frye explains that the in a tragedy such as Hamlet it is inevitable that Hamlet will become isolated from everyone else and that there is most likely no happy ending in sight. So it seems only natural for the protagonist to die as everyone has limitations that cannot be breached. For these reasons the death of Hamlet restores the balance in the ordinary world and his actions will cause everything to be restored back to the way it was. Although there may be other reasons and ideals for why Hamlet must die Frye's sytematic process suits my opinions the best.

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