Tragic Hero Essay A heroic figure that possesses a character flaw which eventually leads up to his or her defeat is know as a tragic hero. This character is known to be both good and noble, but suffers many flaws that do not bring out the best traits that he or she has. In the play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus qualifies to a high extent as the tragic hero. One of Brutus’ flaws has was that he had a lust for power. Others easily manipulated him into any situation, which resulted in him joining the conspiracy.
They realize their mistake, and redeem themselves for what they have done. John Proctor is a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw, he realizes his mistake, and he redeems himself for what he has done by giving his life. Proctor was a well-respected man across the community. He was a man of virtue. Everyone in Salem looked up to him.
Macbeth clearly fits the archetype of tragic hero. Firstly, a tragic hero is a person born of nobility, who is admired by the public but has a flaw which causes his downfall. In Macbeth’s case his flaw is ambition which leads to his downfall. Macbeth, having been born of nobility, begins the play as a general in the army, and Thane of Glamis. He is admired by the public, “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name...”.
A tragic hero is a character who makes an error of judgment that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. In addition, this character is happy at the beginning of the play. A tragic hero must be of noble birth and demonstrate a tragic flaw throughout the story. This character will realize their flaw once it is too late to overcome the conflict. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus exhibits qualities that make him the tragic character.
The Tragic Hero in the Tragedy of Julius Caesar In most stories, there is often a hero that sacrifices to achieve their goal, but in Shakespearean tragedies, there is always a tragic hero. A tragic hero is the protagonist of a tragedy, which is fated to suffer by his or her own flaws or weaknesses. Some people believe that Brutus is the tragic hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, while others believe that Julius Caesar is the tragic hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. The tragic hero in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is Brutus because he experiences suffering, has a tragic flaw of honor, while other believe that Julius Caesar more of a tragic hero. A hero suffers an extreme reversal of fortune, from great success to abysmal failure, which causes immense suffering.
In an essay he wrote about his play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller argues that a tragic hero is not necessarily one who is noble of birth. However, the tragic hero must have these traits: he must suffer, be doomed from the start and his decline inevitable, be basically noble in nature, and have free choice to some degree. Also, his inevitable fate must result from a tragic flaw, and his story must arouse fear and pity. If these qualities are truly what makes a tragic hero, then it can be said that Ethan Frome is a tragic hero, and, therefore, that his story is a tragedy. This can be said because Ethan Frome meets every requirement listed by Miller.
Aristotle believed that a tragic hero must have been a man of greatness and nobility, while still being flawed in essence to his personality. Causing his own demise, the character must suffer far worst then one might think he deserves, at the same time gain insight of this and accept his failure to complete himself and achieve a more righteous self. In my opinion Creon is, according to Aristotle a tragic hero. Creon, being next in line for the political post as King of Thebes, was known for his outstanding beliefs and morals. Creon states, “I say to you at the very outset that I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid/ for whatever reason/ to follow the course of that he knows is best for the state…I have no use for him…” (Antigone.
One sees from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun. Hamlet is considered to be a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw, that in the end, is the cause of his downfall. As defined by Aristotle, a tragic play has a beginning, middle, and end; unity of time and place; a tragic hero; and the concept of catharsis. One of the main reasons this play is considered a tragic play is because the main character is a tragic hero. Hamlet's tragic flaw is he spends too much time thinking and not enough time acting.
Macbeth is a tragic hero, a person of high rank who is brought to eventual ruin by a flaw in his character Macbeth`s tragic flaw is his ambition,which leads him to a series of bloody and increasingly indefensible acts. The most apparent flaw, and perhaps the most in Macbeth`s character, is his lack of patience and temperance. These shortcomings haunted Macbeth,causing him to let his overvaulting ambition rush fate, and hasten his doom. Macbeth could not wait for an appointment to a position of more power. Instead , he murdered the king to take his place.
Tragic hero, a Tragic hero is a not so perfect person of high social status. That then has a downfall from his from his high title in society and pays for all of his wrong doing. During or after his downfall he has a moment of clarity finally realizing what he has done. In the book “Oedipus The King” Oedipus shows to be a true tragic hero. Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions.