William Shakespeare is undoubtedly one of Britain's best playwrights. His works are now classics; especially those labeled as tragedies. On the subject of tragedy, A.C. Bradley has to this to say:

Tragedy is a typical form of mystery because the greatness of soul

which it shows oppressed, conflicting, and destroyed is the highest

existence in our minds. It forces the mystery upon us, and makes

us realize vividly the worth of that which is wasted, and that such

waste of potential greatness, nobility of the soul, of humanity is

truly the tragedy of human existence.

Thus, a tragic pattern emerges (n. pag.).Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello demonstrate clearly the elements of a tragic pattern in a Shakespearean play.

The first of these elements is the first impression and the greatness of the tragic hero. The greatness of the hero is normally heard from others in the beginning of the play before the hero even makes his entrance (Bradley n. pag.). In Hamlet, it is unsure at first to say that Hamlet is as noble and admired as Macbeth and Othello in the beginning. Yet by the middle of the story, it is seen that:

"Hamlet is a tragic hero because the spectacle

Scott, Mark W. "Macbeth". Shakespeare for Students. Detroit, MI: Gale Research: 1992. 235-

Harris. Detroit: Gale Research Co.: 1984. 70-281.

Mack, Maynard. "'The Many Faces of Macbeth". Everybody's Sheakespeare: Reflections Chiefly

When the hero knows that he is alone to blame, he alone has done wrong, and he accepts it absolutely, this is Tragic Recognition. Tragic Recognition occurs when it is too late to correct their errors; the result is their death usually (Bradley n. pag.). The graveyard scene in Hamlet, is the ultimate symbol, he confronts, recognizes, and accepts the condition of his being human (Mack 126). At the end, Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet all are killed. By the time Hamlet recognized his faults, his destiny was already decided. In Macbeth, Macbeth is too desensitized to care about his wrongs, but as Macduff searches for him, he feels a little remorse. By then is too late for him to turn back. In this excerpt from Othello:

makes readers scorn or contempt" (Scott 124). Unlike Hamlet, in the

Mack, Maynard. "'Speak of me as I am: Othello". Everybody's Sheakespeare: Reflections Chiefly

beginning Scott saw Macbeth as a "good man, noble, and admired by all who

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