SDCA Asia-Pacific Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Abstract

This study focused on the error of judgment of the characters in selected Shakespeare’s major plays: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra. It analyzed the tragic flaw found in the events, theme, setting, and characterization. The error of judgment of the characters as the cause of their downfall are identified by the use of the literary device Hamartia as outlined by Aristotle in his Poetics. This presented its implications in teaching literature. This is a qualitative descriptive- analytical anchored by textual analysis. It utilized analytical description in the concept of errors found in Shakespeare’s tragic plays. The plays of Shakespeare are indisputably the greatest tragedian in the field of writing because of his overreaching protagonists which also are tragic heroes. It stipulates some flaws which led to their destruction. It was determined that the protagonists in the plays show some flaws in the events, how the plays change from happiness to misery because of errors; setting, the time and place in which the action of the tragedy occurred; theme, which represents the kind of tragedy and lastly the characterization, by pointing out the qualities and their deeds.

Keywords: Shakespearean play. Tragedy. Flaws. Literature. Error.