Is Hamlet a Tragedy? In the century after Sophocles, the philosopher Aristotle analyzed tragedy. His definition: Tragedy then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions. Serious and magnanimous? …showed first 75 words of 483 total…

…showed last 75 words of 483 total…because he is afraid of Hamlet knowing that he killed his father. Claudius knows that Hamlet is capable of killing him. He knows that he cannot kill Hamlet to protect himself or to prevent the people from knowing who killed the king because the people love Hamlet too much. Claudius feels pity after he sees the trap because he realizes what he had done was wrong now that Hamlet knows the truth behind the matter.