Representations of the Tragic Hero in Othello and Macbeth One of the engaging elements of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes is that they are not monstrosities of virtue but rather people who are simultaneously accessible and elusive; they are made up of qualities and characteristics that we find within ourselves and other characters within the play while exhibiting an intensity that places them beyond our grasp. We come to realize that we have never known such a person (20). This quality of the tragedies
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Oedipus the King The Greek drama Oedipus the King is clearly a tragedy. In the play there are numerous accounts of physical and mental suffering. Although Laius and Jocasta are the catalyst that starts the story in Oedipus the King‚ Oedipus takes the role of the catalyst and becomes the cause of all tragedy to others. In the play Oedipus causes some of his own suffering. Oedipus’s pride gets him into situations that cause him to suffer later on in the play. “He tore the brooches-the
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For the Greeks of ancient times‚ a source of entertainment was often found in the theaters‚ where great tragedies were performed. The narratives of these tragedies evoked in the audience feelings of pain and fear that were built up as the plot progressed; but were released as the tragic events transpired. The Greek audience not only obtained pleasure from this catharsis‚ or purification of emotions‚ but also acquired gratification from the ability to understand and connect with the hero. In the tragedy
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According to the Oxford Dictionary‚ a tragedy is ‘’an event causing great suffering‚ destruction‚ and distress‚ such as a serious accident‚ crime‚ or natural catastrophe’’. It is also said that for a play to be considered a tragedy it must follow the three requirements of a tragedy; shock and violence‚ man of high station falls‚ and deterioration. MacBeth is considered a tragedy as it meets all these requirements; MacBeth’s ambition drives him to insanity‚ the murder of King Duncan‚ and MacBeths
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Oedipus the King written by Sophocles‚ is a play about a king who has it all but is knowledgeable of his past and that ultimately leads to his downfall. He has great self pride after saving his kingdom from the Sphinx‚ but is oblivious to the fact that he is the reason for the deadly plague. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is a play in which a man named Willy struggles with his internal condition and everyday life. He is not able to sell enough product or to ever meet his quotas. He has great
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In the play Hamlet‚ Shakespeare conveys these two main factors fate and flaw to demonstrate the depiction of Hamlet’s demise. A flaw is an imperfection‚ or defect in someone’s behaviour. Fate is the development of events outside a person’s control‚ regarded as determined by a supernatural power. Hamlet’s flaws is caused by his melancholy of being sad‚ depressive‚ and overly-introspective which contribute to his downfall. For example Hamlet demonstrated one of his flaws when
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Willy Loman Hero or pitiful I do not see Willy as a tragic hero at all. I do not view him as pathetic either. He is a man who has visions of grandeur and who desperately wanted to be much more of a success than he was. He also longed to be truly liked and greatly respected. He envisioned himself as being more popular and liked than he was. He longed for the acceptance and love he never got from his occupation‚ so he created this false vision of himself. I felt sorry for Willy‚ actually
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Aristotle : The Irony of Guilt The foundation upon which Aristotle rests his fundamental element of anagnorisis‚ in the Greek Tragedy‚ seems to always come back to human guilt‚ and the chosen actions by the hero forms the consequences of that guilt‚ which thereby determines the resolution. This sets an empathetic hook between audience and hero. It is the emotion that sets forth every action that will determine the hero’s endgame. Aristotle‚ in his formula for Greek Tragedy‚ sets up the central
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Literature to the Renaissance April 25‚ 2012 Sophocles King of Catharsis What is Catharsis? Aristotle describes catharsis as the purging of the emotions of pity and fear that are aroused in the viewer of a tragedy. Debate continues about what Aristotle actually means by catharsis‚ but the concept is linked to the positive social function of tragedy (english.hawaii.edu). A good example of a Catharsis play is Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Pity and fear are the dominating feelings produced by the
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In the Tragedy and the Common Man‚ Arthur Miller describes many key aspects that contribute to a tragedy‚ including the characteristics of a modern tragic hero. Miller describes a modern tragic hero as someone who struggles to obtain what they perceive as their rightful position in their life. Miller writes‚ “The flaw‚ or crack in the characters‚ is really nothing-and need be nothing‚ but his inherent unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity
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