Some of the characteristics of a tragic hero include greatness, a weakness or a flaw, an undeserved fate, and a punishment exceeding the deed committed. Jay Gatsby encompasses all of these characteristics of a tragic hero. Although, the author tries to portray Gatsby as a perfect person, there are still some noticeable flaws. Gatsby’s great life unwinds with the death of the tragic hero. Gatsby was portrayed as esteemed by the way others spoke of him.
With the death of Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows an insight of a perfect example of a classic tragic hero. Despite bending a few rules, Shakespeare illustrates that if a character is not held by fate, causes their own downfalls and realizing it was their own fault, they are what many call a tragic hero. Being a tragic hero isn’t limited to just stories or plays, but can be applied in the real world as well. Richard Nixon was thought to be a great man, but after following the same road Macbeth had taken, they both found themselves destroyed by guilt, and are now considered, “Tragic
This is what differentiates a __ hero and a tragic one. A tragic hero, according to Aristotle is a man of an elevated social stature who falls from his or her position through the effect of a tragic flaw. A tragic hero also experiences a sense of recognition that he has contributed to his downfall through his own actions. In the novel 1984, the author, George Orwell, creates a fictional character, Winston Smith, who is clearly a tragic hero. 1984 presents an imaginary future where a totalitarian state controls every aspect of people’s lives, even their thoughts.
A tragic hero refers to the nature or character of a person. Their characteristics may include having a tragic flaw, falling from a great height in society, and most importantly meeting a death, which causes the reader to ache for this character. There are many ways in which John Proctor of The Crucible by Arthur Miller may be considered a tragic hero. Some of these ways include that he realized all his mistakes and confessed all his sins. Another characteristic that makes John Proctor a tragic hero is his tragic flaw and his final tragic death.
In Arthur Miller’s more complex world, a more complex tragic hero is needed. Indeed, a more complex hero is needed because Arthur Miller is also telling of his own tragic struggle through John Proctor. Aristotle gives four basic characteristics of a tragic hero: nobleness of birth, a tragic flaw, the hero’s downfall, and the anagnorisis, or the realization by the protagonist that his downfall was his own doing. There are other accepted requirements as well, such as the hero suffering more than he
Harlan 1 Chloe Harlan Mrs. Tubbs Period 3 02 May 2013 John Proctor; The Tragic Hero In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is portrayed as the tragic hero. He is a man of dignity and integrity, but beneath his tough outer exterior lays a defeated man. Having knowledge of committing adultery, he is gnawed by his feeling of guilt, which leaves him powerless to do anything about it. As the plot of the play unfolds, his admirable characteristics are presented to the reader by his actions that contrast him against other characters in the Puritan town of Salem. Back in the day, Proctor had everything your average Puritan man could want: a goodly farm to ceaselessly toil upon, three goodly sons to discipline, and a goodly wife with whom to make a home.
This play exhibits tragedy because, though Proctor had many opportunities to change his fate, he chooses his demise because his tragic flaw prohibits him from doing otherwise. John Proctor is the tragic hero of the play, “The Crucible.” He has a high social status in the town, yet, because of his tragic flaw, he cannot bring himself to prevent his own death and tragic downfall. Proctor exhibits these tragic traits, making this play a tragedy of self-respect prevailing over shame and public
He was educated at home so he had no real idea of what life was like outside of his family which may of created an ignorance to what was going on around him. Furthermore he was rather aimless and lacking in motivation in early life so he wouldn't of cared what was going on much as he wouldn't of had the drive to do anything about it. However his upbringing did help a little as when he went to secondary school, a school called Gorton that was private and had a fee, he was motivated by his headmaster who inspired him and urged him to help people less fortunate than himself and enter public service. This was helpful as his headmaster was inspiring. He went to Harvard university which gave him his independence and taught him how to handle things on his own.
Comparative Essay on the Characterization of Windows and A Devoted Son The two stories “Windows” and “Devoted Son” both have the same universal theme. Happiness is not based on wealth or material objects. When Leah was growing up she lived in poverty but was still happy where as the old man was wealthy yet still unhappy. Leah and the old man became happy emotionally not materialistically, and both Leah’s and the old man’s families were materialistic and unhappy. Leah grew up on a small farm in Estonia, and was not very wealthy.
Erik Chung Tragedy of Death of a Salesman The great Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is still heard and used today from over 2000 years ago. Aristotle defined a tragedy as a reversal of fortune of a great and noble man to a man that is brought to ruin due to a tragic flaw. The fall of the “hero” creates pity and fear in the audience, but in the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, one would possibly think otherwise. Our “tragic” hero in the play is Willy Loman, an unsuccessful man left abandoned by those he thought that loved him. Yes, although many would think we are supposed to pity this man, I simply cannot.