Characteristics Of A Tragic Hero - 944 Words

The main classification for a character to be known as a tragic hero is that the so-call hero has some type a flaw that causes cloudiness in his/her judgment, and leads to the downfall of himself/herself or those around him/her. In Aristotle s Poetics, he describes what characteristics a tragic hero will mostly like have, since both Euripides s Medea and Homer s Achilles have downfalls that not only affect them but also the those around them, they should be classified as tragic heroes by Aristotle s definition and by today s definition. One of the characteristics of a tragic hero according to Aristotle is that the protagonist must come from nobility, so that the downfall of the character is greater than an average person s, and should have some type of unique skills or abilities. It is clear that both Medea and Achilles have this characteristic. Medea was the daughter of Aeà «tes, king of Colchis, and the wife the Greek warrior Jason; she is also known for her magic abilities. Achilles was a Greek warrior, who was also son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and Thetis, minor nature goddess. Therefore, the previous background information alone fulfills one characteristic of a tragic hero. Another of the characteristic of a tragic hero is that the main character has personality traits that leads to their downfall. Both Achilles and Medea share common personalities traits such as being short-tempered, prideful, and thirst for revenge. At the beginning of Homer sShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of A Tragic Hero1295 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Aristotle, a Tragic Hero is described as a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her destruction. Aristotle once said that A man doesnt become a hero until he can see the root of his downfall. An Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific characteristics, five of which are below: 1)Flaw or error of judgment (hamartia) Note the role of justice and revenge in the judgments. 2) A reversal of fortune (peripeteia) brought about because of the herosRead MoreCharacteristics Of Willy Loman A Tragic Hero834 Words   |  4 PagesWilly Loman a Tragic Hero? Death Of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by american playwright Arthur Miller. It is a breathtaking play about Willy Loman, a salesman, trying to chase a dream that died long ago. It expresses how the old man’s life comes crumbling down with his last few attempts to make some of his dream reality and help his family in debt. Now people are debating weather Willy loman fits the right characteristics to be classified as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is someone who makesRead MoreCharacteristics of a Tragic Hero in Oedipus the King by Sophocles1238 Words   |  5 PagesThrough Aristotle’s specific definition of a tragic hero, it can be concluded that Oedipus is a tragic hero. Oedipus The King was written by a well-known tragic dramatist named Sophocles. This story is considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of all time. In fact, the Marjorie Barstow of the Classical Weekly says that it â€Å"fulfills the function of a tragedy, and arouses fear and pity in the high est degree† (Barstow). It is also very controversial because of the relationship that Oedipus hasRead More John Proctor is a Tragic Hero in The Crucible by Arthur Miller688 Words   |  3 PagesGreeks, tragic heroes have been used to enhance the meaning of a play or literary work. Any character cannot be described as tragic hero. Several key characteristics are necessary for the tragic hero to possess in order to be characterized as such. He must be high-ranked or have a high standing in the community. He must have a weakness or a tragic flaw and be involved in a struggle. In the end, that struggle will lead to his downfall. Arthur Miller purposely incorporates these characteristics into JohnRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Sophocles Antigone1521 Words   |  7 PagesAn Aristotelian tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment that ultimately leads to his or her own destruction. An example of a true Aristotelian tragic hero is Creon from Sophocles’ play, Antig one. Creon is the tragic hero because he goes through the five stages of a tragic hero which leads to his destruction. His tragic flaw is him being afraid to admit that he has made a mistake. He is too proud of his power and his ability to make laws which leads to his son and wife committingRead More The Tragic Hero: Creon or Antigone? Essay1293 Words   |  6 PagesAntigone and Creon can both be thought of as the tragic hero of the play. Though Antigone does show some of these characteristics of a tragic hero, Creon demonstrates the attributes more clearly and concisely. Creon is the King of Thebes, as well as the uncle of Antigone. Creon took the throne after a tragic quarrel between his two nephews, Eteocles and Polyneices. Despite his harsh governing and his crude ideals, he is not good or bad. Creon is the tragic hero of the play Antigone, because of his superiorityRead MoreAntigone by Sophocles1059 Words   |  5 Pages In the book Antigone, Creon and Antigone can be considered as the tragic heroes of the play. Antigone is considered the tragic hero because of the characteristics she shows such as her ambition to defeat Creon, Creon shows more of the characteristics clearly. Creon is the king of Thebes. He is also Antigones uncle. Creon became king after a fight between Eteocles and Polyneices. One may see Creon as a harsh and controlling ruler, but he is not good nor bad because he shows signs of both like whenRead MoreCharacteristics Of Michael Jackson712 Words   |  3 PagesMichael Jackson a tragic hero? Well, What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is someone who is great or virtuous character who is destined for downfall, suffering or defeat. Michael Jackson fits characteristics of a tragic hero. Many people remember him by his influence on people and music.Some of the ways he did inspire people was by doing things for children. Michael fits the characteristics as a tragic hero in many differen t ways with all the downfalls and positive things he has done for us todayRead MoreExamples Of John Proctor In The Crucible985 Words   |  4 PagesProctor; Tragic Hero or Ordinary Joe Plays have been used as a method of storytelling and form of entertainment for hundreds of years. A tragedy is one type of play where the audience pities the characters and fear the same consequences that the characters face. In addition, tragedies often include a tragic hero who has a tragic flaw causing his or her downfall. One example of a play that is a tragedy and includes a tragic hero is the The Crucible. John Proctor in The Crucible is a true tragic heroRead More Shakespeare - Tragic Heros Essay625 Words   |  3 Pagesamp;quot;tragic heroamp;quot;, which has become synonymous with Shakespearean dramas, was developed before Hamlet, Macbeth or any of Shakespeare’s well-known plays were written. The literary term was actually discovered around 330 BC by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Through his theory of catharsis, Aristotle debated that the great plays of Sophicles, Euripides, and other Greek playwrights contained tragic heroes similar to each other, which all portrayed four basic characteristics (amp;quot;English