This fact caused Hamlet to act more conspicuously thus making him seem more "guilty" in the eyes of the public. Secondly, like Romeo, Hamlet was a celebrated fencer and was expected to accept each challenge. In the final scene, Hamlet engaged in mortal combat with his enemy Laertes, but he was unjustly attacked with a poisonous sword, thus ending his life. The above examples clearly prove that both Romeo and Hamlet have common, tragic experiences resulting from their status in the public eye.
To conclude the above examples we must analyze more carefully how these elements help each respective play fulfill the guidelines of a tragedy. It is clearly proven with the preceding examples that both Romeo and Hamlet have seen both direct and indirect poor endings that came as a result of their social status. Thus, by definition, these plays fit the profile of a tragedy. .
In continuing, another element that has plagued Shakespeare's tragic heroes is their need to battle some clashing force. Common to both protagonists is the element of fate. Fate is "an uncontrollable power that is thought to make things happen, and that controls one's destiny" (Oxford 260). As to be discovered in the proceeding examples, this aspect is partly responsible for Hamlet and Romeo's bitter end.
In opening, Romeo was supposed to receive a letter detailing the plan set out by Friar Lawrence. Fate was against Romeo here since that letter was undelivered due to a series of complications. As a result, Romeo eventually committed suicide not knowing that Juliet was still alive. Another uncontrollable force that caused his bitter end was the strife between his parents and the parents of Juliet. This fact made it impossible for the two to lead a successful life together and caused Romeo to strive for a futile dream that he died trying to achieve. Comparatively, Hamlet fought fate as well. Firstly, Hamlet was greeted by the ghost of his father, these chance encounters caused Hamlet to question the truth behind his father's death which lead to his mortal struggle for revenge.
