According to Aristotle’s criteria of a tragic hero, King Lear shows characteristics of a tragic hero by having pre-eminence, tragic flaw and gaining of interest. Pre-eminence is superior to or notable above all others; outstanding. According to Aristotle people with high power are people that are exceptional beings and that “the hero, with Shakespeare, is a person of high degree or of public importance, and his actions or sufferings are of an unusual kind.” (Bradley, 687) This can also relate to “King Lear” because Lear is the King of Britain, therefore he has pre-eminence. Lear has been used to enjoying all his power and making sure everyone knows he has it. This
Likewise, Antony’s motivation is his loyalty to Caesar; he does not stop until he avenges Caesar’s death. Unfortunately, Cassius is self-absorbed; his world simply revolves around himself. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar presents different vies of honor primarily through three main characters; Brutus is the most honorable due to his patriotism, Antony follows behind considering his loyalty, and Cassius is least honorable by cause of his self-centeredness. Brutus is the most honorable man, for he continues to act upon his beliefs and his motivations are pure; he wants to make Rome a better place. Brutus never gives in to ideas others force upon him.
Brutus is a loving character that over the play is well known by everybody and his love and caring trait is known through the following quote: “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts; / and that which would appear offence in us, / his countenance, like richest alchemy, / will change to virtue and to worthiness.” (I, iii; 157-160) In this scene, Caska wants Brutus to be in the conspiracy as he complements him because Brutus was well known and definitely a great leader. Brutus also has a deep respect with his wife and didn’t worry about himself first. “Portia what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? / It is not for your health, thus to commit / your weak condition to the raw cold morning.” (II, i; 234-236) Brutus is a loving character through this quote because normally in that time, women weren’t as well recognized as now but Brutus really cares ad loves his wife.
To what Extent is King Lear a Tragic Hero? Aristotle said that tragedy is characterised by seriousness and dignity and involving a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune. Aristotle’s definition can include a change of fortune from bad to good, but he says that the change from good to bad is preferable because this affects pity and fear within the audience. Tragedy results in catharsis (emotional cleansing) or healing for the audience through their experience of these emotions in response to the suffering of the characters in the drama/play. According to Aristotle a tragic hero must be a noble person and also hold a “high” status in society.
The play begins by showing the readers that Othello is a noble General. He is well respected by his officers with the exception of Iago of course, and he is well respected by politicians. The Duke makes it clear what the town thinks of Othello by saying “Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you.” (1. I; iii 576). And later on in the same scene he says to Barbantio, “Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” Othello is a highly esteemed man who commands the respect of everyone he meets.
Mill later struggled with the concepts of utilitarianism because it was too unemotional and failed to capture or understand the ‘higher’ pleasure of happiness without pain. Bentham’s theory failed to acknowledge the complexities like emotion. However, Mill did not reject Bentham’s ideas of pleasure fulfillment; he created a more complex version of utilitarianism, yet one that still embraces the most basic premises of Bentham and of his father, James Mill. Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." Mill defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain.
He expects other men to be guided by their emotions too--and in this he shows a much better understanding of people than Brutus. Antony appeals to the citizens' feelings right from the beginning. He does this easily, because he really does have strong feelings about the death of his friend Julius Caesar. He loved Caesar, he hates the conspirators, he wants revenge--and he also wants to save his own life and to achieve a position of power in the new order which will have to take form after the elimination of Julius
The most important conclusion Shakespeare has drawn about the nature of humanity in King Lear is the fact that evil is not something the gods have cursed you with at birth but it is something that you choose for yourselfACt . The contrast he uses shows us that Edmoud had everything he needed to be good, he had the look and he had the attitude , but ultimately he chose to wrong path, he was blinded by power and his need to be treated as an equal. Later in that scene [165] after his brother is wounded Edgar affirms his belief that the gods play no hand in the evilness of the world through his dialogue “The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us” he states that the gods are fair and only punish us with our own wrong doings, even Edmoud agrees with him. Edmonds good side does make an appearance, towards the end of act 5 scene 3, “ Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send – be brief in it – to th’castle; for my wit is on the life of Lear and Cordelia” , in this remorseful dialogue Edmond`
Although Othello is wildly respected because of his hard work to become general, Iago uses Othello’s skin color to try and destroy his reputation. Othello is portrayed as a passionate and noble hero. He is represented as an honest man and holds a high rank as general in the Venician Army. Although Othello is portrayed as a great man, he is also treated as an outsider because he is a Moor. For example Brabantio says to Othello “You’re something to fear, not to love.
As a hero, the Anglo-Saxons made Beowulf have certain hero characteristics. Today we still have heroes that have the same characteristics because authors took the image of Beowulf and created other super-natural heroes. Beowulf was a warrior and a king that showed great courage and he was admired by his own people and King Hrothgar. Epic heroes are social icons and they are imposing in stature, physically and socially. Their style is grand, yet simple, and they have super-human strength and they also face super-natural forces.