The Odyssey Essay Classic literature often provides insight to an ancient society‚ their values‚ and their beliefs. Many books that are considered classics today focus on ancient Rome and Greece. Revenge‚ hubris‚ and other themes‚ and the relation of this book to modern life‚ classifies the poem The Odyssey by Homer‚ translated by Fitzgerald‚ as a classic. For this reason‚ it is still read today. Classic themes of The Odyssey are a reason that it is a timeless tale. The concept of revenge
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with a catastrophic death. After Oedipus’ death‚ his two sons‚ Polyneices and Etoeocles‚ tragically kill each other in battle. As a result Creon ascends to the throne. In Sophocles’ Antigone‚ Creon represents the tragic hero due to the tragic flaw‚ hubris‚ which he shares with Oedipus. Creon takes on the new leadership role as the King of Thebes‚ he begins to believe that his laws are more important than the laws of the gods. He displays entitlement while he talks with Choragos; “—Polyneices‚ I
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Othello Essay William Shakespeare’s Othello tells a story of the tragic downfall of a man through jealousy and mistrust‚ influenced by the manipulative actions of another. Due to innumerable changes within society over time‚ it is inevitable that a wide range of critical interpretations and readings of the text will emerge. My personal interpretation of the play draws from the concepts of the traditional Aristotelian views of a tragedy. An Aristotelian interpretation concerns itself with whether
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Hamlet Essay Hamlet‚ the titular character of the Shakespeare play‚ is one that‚ like many tragic heroes‚ has a tragic flaw. This hamartia eventually leads to his downfall‚ as a result of the circumstances he places himself in. Hamlet’s tragic flaw of inaction leads to his death by Laertes hand‚ as he is consistently unable to kill Claudius despite occult intervention‚ the slaying of Polonius‚ and the eventual climax of the duel. Near the beginning of the play‚ Hamlet is approached by the
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Shakespearian play Macbeth‚ as well as‚ the dystopian novel The Stone Angel‚ by Margaret Laurence‚ the audience is revealed to two themes that relate not only to the play and novel‚ but to life in general; the destruction of vaulting ambition‚ as well as‚ hubris can lead to a downfall. Such themes were clearly portrayed through the use of the tragic heroes‚ and their decisions‚ in both Macbeth and The Stone Angel. Within Macbeth‚ the protagonist‚ Macbeth‚ is introduced in the play as being the bravest‚ most
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severely. Creon is the exact antithesis of Oedipus. He thinks before he acts. Creon is wise and loyal. In Sophocles’ other play‚ "Antigone"‚ however‚ he undergoes a drastic personality change. He becomes more and more like Oedipus. Creon commits acts of hubris‚ kills and humiliates people for no reason whatsoever. Once he realizes the folly of his ways‚ he punishes himself for going against the gods and destroying all that he loved‚ This is strikingly similar to the story of Oedipus. At first Oedipus and
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Alan Paton’s Cry‚ the Beloved Country‚ is a tragic hero because of the reversal in Stephen’s fortunes in his search for his son‚ Absalom. Kumalo passes from happiness to misery from the point when he finds Gertrude to Absalom’s hanging. He also has hamartia‚ demonstrated in the sporadic dishonesty or tantrum. Finally‚ Kumalo is not virtuous and just‚ since he tries to get his son a pardon instead of holding Absalom responsible for Arthur’s murder. Kumalo transitions
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In addition to the inability to accept other cultures and racism‚ another consequence of human hubris is a detrimental superiority complex that prevents humans from getting to the things that they want or need because of the belief that they are too good. That dangerous superiority complex can be seen in the short story “Silent Towns” in which Walter Gripp‚ the main character of the short story‚ finds himself alone in his town on Mars. At first‚ he relishes in his newfound independence and the lack
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five defining characteristics‚ which are nobility‚ hamartia‚ downfall‚ anagnorisis‚ and suffering. In the Shakespearean model of tragedy‚ the play Romeo and Juliet best models the tragic hero. For instance‚ nobility is characterized by being an upperclassman or royalty and being elevated character. In the play‚ Romeo shows signs of nobility in the prologue when it is announced that he is the heir of a wealthy family‚ the Montagues. His hamartia‚ or tragic flaw is shown when after being heartbroken
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used in epics to describe the journey of the hero from bad to good. In The Odyssey‚ Odysseus is characterized as arrogant‚ and and his journey from hubris to humility. The hero cycle is a theme that epics follow. It starts off with a departure then goes to an initiation where they come to an end in their return. Odysseus’ test is to see help him heal hubris. He must learn self-control‚ and humbleness. He comes to a breaking point because of some of the tasks that he endures‚ he must overcome them to
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