...Something tragic happens in everyone’s life. In some cases, it is predetermined what their fate will be, and in others, tragedy ensues as a product of their environment. In the case of Oedipus, his tragedy could not be stopped because it was predetermined what was going to happen to him before his birth. But in the case of Bartleby, his tragedy ensued because he was a mere product of his environment. An oracle told Laios and Iokaste, Oedipus’s parents, that their first born son would kill his father and marry his mother. Terrified that the oracle was right, when Iokaste had Oedipus, she sent him away to be murdered. But fate played a major part in their lives and Oedipus’s life was spared. He ended up killing a man where three roads meet, which later on he found out to be his birth father, Laios. Oedipus also saved Thebes from the wrath of a sphinx, and therefore became king and wed the widow Iokaste, who he later found out is his birth mother. As the result of finding out that the oracle could not be changed and that fate can not be beaten, Iokaste hanged herself, and upon hearing all this horrible news, Oedipus scratched himself blind with broaches and banished himself from Thebes. In the case of Bartleby, time and situations molded him into a very sad and monotonous man. Working as a Scrivener in a Law Copyist office, Bartleby seemed like he was the perfect worker. Even though he kept to himself, there were no major apparent flaws within him. Things started to change...
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...Othello: Tragic Hero? Michael Charles Robinson ENGL 102 October 17, 2011 Ms. Charity Givens Othello: Tragic Hero? I. Introduction Thesis statement A. Thesis Statement II. Brief overview of Othello III. Aristotle and Othello A. Peripeteia B. Hamartia C. Anagnorsis D. Catharsis IV. Othello a tragic hero? A. Evidence supporting B. Not supporting V. Brief overview of “O” A. Comparison to original VI. Conclusion THESIS STATEMENT: Othello is a tragic hero because he mostly satisfies Aristotle’s four requirements for a tragic hero: peripeteia, hamartia, anagnorsis, and catharsis. Othello: Tragic Hero? The tragic play Othello, written by William Shakespeare has caused constant dispute on whether the main character Othello can be considered as a tragic hero or not. Othello is a tragic hero because he mostly satisfies Aristotle’s four requirements for a tragic hero: peripeteia, hamartia, anagnorsis, and catharsis. The exploration of different aspects of the Othello character will give the readers of this essay insight regarding whether Othello is a...
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...According to Aristotle, the definition for tragic hero is a character who is noble or a man of high status, has a tragic flaw, and discovers his fate by his own actions. Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe could be easily classified as a tragic hero because his character satisfies all the requirements set forth by Aristotle. Because Okonkwo was a powerful and respected man in Umuofia, possessed the flaw of the fear of failure and weakness, and his unwillingness to change after returning from exile resulted in his demise, his character is undoubtedly that of a tragic hero. In order to be classified as a tragic hero, Aristotle requires that the character must be noble or a man of high status. Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart was “well...
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...Oedipus as a Tragic Hero Oedipus, who is a great ruler with the ideal characteristics that a hero would have, falls under the category of a tragic hero based off Aristotle’s definition. According to Aristotle, Oedipus fits in as an ideal tragic hero due to the the reader’s connection to the protagonist in regards to the emotional attachment created, the fear of what will happen due to a major flaw in the character, and the pitying for the hero as he suffers while facing his destiny. The nobility that Oedipus posses is an integral trait that makes the reader feel attached to his character. Although he does not yet know, he is the son of Laius and Jocasta, who were better known to be the King and Queen of Thebes. Even though they were not his biological parents, Oedipus himself believed that he was the son of Polybus and Merope, King and Queen of Corinth. “Polybus of Corinth was my father, my mother was the Dorian Merope” (Gould 775). Another heroic action...
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...Hamlet as a Tragic Hero William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright of the English language, wrote a total of 37 plays in his lifetime, all of which can be categorized under tragedy, comedy, or history. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare's most popular and greatest tragedy, displays his genius as a playwright, as literary critics and academic commentators have found an unusual number of themes and literary techniques present in Hamlet. Hamlet concerns the murder of the king of Denmark and the murdered king's son's quest for revenge. Its main character, Hamlet, possesses a tragic flaw which obstructs his desire for revenge and ultimately brings about his death. This tragic flaw makes him a tragic hero, a character who is destroyed because of a major weakness, as his death at the end could possibly have been avoided were it not for his tragic flaw. Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. First, Hamlet's flaw of irresolution is shown when he sees a play and the passion one particular actor had. A group of players has arrived and Hamlet arranges a personal viewing of The Murder of Gonzago with a small portion of his own lines inserted. Hamlet then observes one portion...
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...Oral Presentation Macbeth as a tragic hero Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, that is set in Scotland and is believed to have been written around 1606. Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, and tells the story of a brave Scottish general named Macbeth that let himself conducted by a consuming ambition that leads him to a tragic end. The play dramatizes effects produced when evil is chosen as a way to fulfill the ambition for power . Before we can tell if Macbeth is it, or not a tragic hero, we must to know what the traditionally definition says about that that: Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, a tragic hero is a literary character who make judgement errors that inevitably leads to his/her destruction. The hero also must to fallow certain characteristics that we have attached on a separate sits that the teacher gave to us and is named : Characteristics of a Shakespearean tragic hero. There are about 14 condition that one tragic hero should have. I will try to give examples for all this characteristics that i believe that Macbeth have and he is the perfect tragic hero. Macbeth was born a Scottish nobleman who was a recognized solider with an appetite for his opposing enemy`s blood in order to protect his country and gain his valor. At the start of the play, we were introduced to Macbeth by the injured sergeant recount about Macbeth war-time battlefield valor and heroics, so we were given an impression that the main protagonist was supposed...
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...Okonkwo A Tragic Hero Okonkwo's fortune really helped him become a tragic h Is Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart a tragic hero who dies at the end of the story.There are many ways that Okonkwo can be a tragic hero. Can Okonkwo and these three ways peripeteia,superiority, and his hamartia make him his own tragic hero in his life,village,or story. ero. From his farm to his titles he became a tragic hero of fortune. Okonkwo's farm helped him make fortune by his yams. His yams had stocked him up for the winters and he could also help his friends. Another way he has fortune is his wives. Okonkwo has three wives and with this he seems to have fortune to be able to have three wives to support.The last way okonkwo has fortune...
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...When the Tragic Hero Falls There are lots of tragedies happening all around us, whether it be a catastrophic incident or something as simple as dropping that last piece of cake, each of us have different ways of viewing tragedies. The two tragedies, Oedipus Rex and Death of a Salesman examine tragedies very differently. Oedipus Rex is about a king who uncovers his horrific backstory, that he has killed his father and married his mother. Knowing this information, it begins to demolish his state of reality. It caused him to go from an extremely high peak, honored king, to a terribly low peak, resented human. In Death of a Salesman, a average American man named Willy Loman spirals into further insanity because he cannot reach his deceitful dream....
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...URI 25 September 2013 Oedipus Tragic Hero Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as a person, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Although this definition accurately describes Oedipus’ character, tragic hero is more of an apt description. A tragic hero is defined usually by the following: One, A man of noble stature. Two, A selfless man who is not afraid to come under scrutiny. Three, The hero honorably receives the punishment given to him. From the beginning to end of the play Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, Oedipus truly defines himself as a hero, a tragic hero. Oedipus is first introduced as the sole ruler of Thebes. Kings/Dictators are usually looked down upon due to their brash and selfish behavior, but Oedipus is the opposite. A priest say, “Therefore, O mighty power, we turn to you: find us our safety, find us a remedy, whether by counsel of the gods or of men. A king of wisdom tested in the past can act in a time of troubles, and act well. Noblest of men, restore life to your city! “(Sophocles 2) when Oedipus makes a declaration to save the city of Thebes from the ongoing plague. The priest calls him the “Noblest of men” in marvel, at the fact, a man of such high stature and importance takes the time to address the concerns of his people. The words used to describe Oedipus such as liberator, noblest of men, boldness, and mighty power show that the people of Thebes rely on and look to Oedipus for safety...
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...As defined by Aristotle, Creon is a tragic hero who experiences hamartia, reversal, and recognition of his own downfall. Creon’s inflexibility is a trigger that brings him down. He refuses to listen to anyone but himself and believes the whole world should worship him and revolve around him. Creon is too stubborn and blinded by his great pride that he doesn't think he's doing one thing incorrectly. When Teiresias comes to Creon to tell him what is coming towards him, Creon thinks it's joke and thinks that someone paid Teiresias to scare the king. For example of Creon speaking with Teiresias, “Teiresias, it is a sorry thing when a wise man sells his wisdom, let out his words for hire!” Creon believes that Teiresias is a con artist trying to get quick cash, because Creon is so blind to the truth. Creon believes as a king, everyone should obey his orders and he follows the laws of the land and refuses to believe the laws of the gods. His son gives him the truth...
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...Montel Branch English 4 Argumentative essay What makes someone a tragic hero? A tragic hero is someone who makes judgement error that inevitably lead to their own destruction. A hero’s downfall comes from specific traits that cause their destruction. Between the two major characters Antigone and Othello, Othello exemplifies a tragic hero the most from the following reasons error of judgment, reversal of fortune and recognition of change in fate. The tragic hero trait that Othello displays is recognition of reversal was brought by his own actions. The general of the Venetian army, Othello married to wife Desdemona was friends with a trustable man named Iago. Othello made the decision to make Cassio his lieutenant instead of Iago....
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...to the tragic hero. Typically when we hear the word hero our minds think of one who has superpowers and protects their citizens, such a Superman and Spiderman. But when it comes to the Aristotle, a tragic hero in the Greek world often refers to the character that belongs to a higher class, but yet is one who has their very own human flaws. After reading the play, many readers believe that the tragic character is in fact Antigone because she is the main character, but that is not the case. The real tragic hero that is being portrayed throughout the story is Creon. Creon posses all of the qualities that a tragic hero must have, such as his authority, high status, actions and many flaws that later on leads him into a vicious cycle. Since the death of Antigone’s parents, Creon has turned into the powerful, wealthy king. Creon holds such an authoritative role throughout the story that it allowed him to fall into the character of a tragic hero. The people were so loyal to Creon and this showed throughout the burial...
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...A tragic hero, without an audiences' sympathy, is nothing more than a wasted character. The hero must have nobility, enough to reward him credibility with their audience. From there, he must reach a turning point from his former fortune to utter misery by the hands of his own landmark flaw. With these three combinations, he must, without exception, achieve audience sympathy; without it his lesson becomes useless, just he himself does. Though she may not fit the mold of the tragic Aristotle defined, Nora surpasses the title entirely. While still holding the three key features of nobility, harmartia, and peripetia, Nora claims victory over Oedipus as audiences willing give her their sympathy, making her the more affective tragic hero. Despite...
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...Who’ s the Tragic Hero? A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle as someone with hamartia,which is a flaw or error of judgement, peripeteia, a reversal of fortune due to the error of judgement, anagnorisis, the realization that the peripeteia was caused by their own actions, and hubris, excessive pride. In Antigone by Sophocles there is a debate of who is the tragic hero of the story Antigone or Creon. According to the definition the tragic hero of Antigone has to be Creon. Antigone starts medias res, Creon declares that his nephew Polynieces is not to get the proper burial, “ No burial of any kind. No wailing, no public tears. / Give him to the vultures, unwept, unburied, / To be a sweet treasure for their sharp eyes and beaks” (l.28-30). Creon was feared by all of his subjects so they obeyed his command no matter how immoral. The only person that openly defied him was Antigone, his niece, with burying Polynieces. When the Watchman told Creon what had occurred Creon said that Antigone had to die. Creon said that...
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...Othello: An Aristotelian Tragic Hero or Not? Thesis Statement Othello: An Aristotelian Tragic Hero or Not? By reviewing the definition of tragedy and tragic play, we could agree that the play Othello fits the mold of a tragic play. The question that remains unanswered is does Othello fit the definition of a tragic hero? Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, developed the definition of the Aristotelian tragedy/ tragic hero. The play Othello does not fit all of the criteria to be considered an Aristotelian tragedy; however it is more of a tragic play. Outline 1. Overview of tragedy and tragic play Provide overview of Othello 2. Is Othello a tragic hero? 3. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero Person of high estate, royalty 4. Aristotle’s second criteria Protagonist must fall from power 5. Weakness of character 6. Misfortune is not warranted 7. Tragic hero learns of his misstates before his downfall While researching the definition of the word “tragedy,” I learned that it is a very heartbreaking or catastrophic event. To further my research, I looked up the definition of a tragic play, and learned that it is a serious play with a tragic theme that often involves a heroic struggle which leads to the downfall of the main character. William Shakespeare’s play, Othello certainly fits the definition of a tragic play. The protagonist in the play, Othello, is a high ranked general in the Venetian army who is held in very high esteem...
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