Why is it that nice guys always finish last? Is it the price they must pay for a life of admiration and respect? In Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, the protagonists share similar characteristics and elements of a tragic hero. These such aspects are: high social status, a need to battle some clashing force and domination by some overpowering trait. To fully assess the above we must first know the definition of a tragic hero. This character is described as, "A protagonist, who through many uncontrollable occurrences, ends his life in a bitter fashion" (Hewitt pg 15). The proceeding comparative study will further discuss this point. .
To begin, a tragedy is defined "as a play whereby the protagonist has lead way to an unhappy ending" (Webster pg 278). Like in most of Shakespeare's tragedies, the protagonists have attained a certain level of upper social status. But in his tragic plays, this characteristic has been a hindrance rather than an aid to there success. The following will show how this aspect had lead to both Hamlet and Romeo's ultimate demise.
Firstly, Romeo, the main protagonist in Romeo and Juliet, had seen his tragic end fuelled by his social status. Romeo, a Montague, was forbidden to be involved with Juliet, a Capulet, due to a conflict between the heads of both families. Hence, Romeo's social standing lead to his eventual end, "The continuance of their parents rage, which, but their children's end could not remove" (prologue R+J lines 10-11). As well, Romeo was a highly versatile fighter, thus he was subject to many challenges. One of such lead to him slaying another individual named Tybalt. By doing so he caused his eventual banishment from Verona, the location of his love Juliet. In comparison, Hamlet found his social status to be a negative influence in his progression. Hamlet was the only son of the deceased King Hamlet Senior and next in line to acquire the throne himself, therefore he was under careful scrutiny from his many subordinates.
