John Proctor: A Tragic Hero Over the years‚ literary devices have changed as writers continually come up with new ones. One device that is has been used many times throughout the generations is the appearance of the tragic hero. Since the days of Shakespeare‚ tragic heroes have been used to enhance the meaning of a literary work. Any character cannot be described as tragic hero. Several key characteristics are necessary for the tragic hero to possess in order to be characterized as such. He must
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials Tragic hero
The Iliad by Reanna Shah The definition of a tragic hero was a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that was destined for downfall‚ suffering‚ or defeat. A tragic hero was a literary character who made an error of judgment or had a fatal flaw that‚ combined with fate and external forces‚ brings on tragedy. A tragic hero is usually good‚ but makes bad decisions‚ associated with a tragic flaw that haunts the character throughout the story. In the Iliad‚ Achilles played a large role in
Free Achilles Iliad Trojan War
established a set of characteristics for a tragic hero. During Shakespeare’s time‚ a number of brilliant pieces of literature were composed as well. In the Shakespearian play‚ The Tragedy of Macbeth‚ Macbeth is portrayed as a character that has many of the same characteristics of a Greek tragic hero. Due to the similarities between Aristotle’s principles of tragic hero and Macbeth himself‚ it can easily be said that Macbeth’s character is truly a tragic hero. Before Macbeth had committed any evil
Premium Macbeth Tragic hero
Oedipus: A Tragic Hero Aristotle’s tragic hero is one of the most recognizable types of heroes among literature. A tragic hero combines five major points all of which have to do with the hero’s stature in society‚ his faults‚ how these faults effect him‚ the punishment his faults gets him‚ and how he reacts to this punishment. Aristotle explained that the story of Oedipus the King‚ written by Sophocles‚ is a perfect example of a tragic hero. In the play‚ Oedipus is given a prophecy in which he
Premium Sophocles Oedipus Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Every story has a hero‚ and every hero has a destiny. This is exemplified in A Separate Peace by main character Phineas. What classifies Finny as a tragic hero‚ instead of just an ordinary hero‚ is his downfall. As defined by Aristotle‚ a tragic hero is a character who faces their own destruction due to fate‚ a mistake‚ or a personal flaw (Literary Devices). Finny fits the noble and heroic characterization naturally‚ and it is without a doubt that his demise was certainly a tragedy. In A Separate
Premium Tragedy Tragic hero Character
"Archetypal" Tragic Hero 1. Noble Stature: since tragedy involves the "fall" of a tragic hero‚ one theory is that one must have a lofty position to fall from‚ or else there is no tragedy (just pathos). Another explanation of this characteristic is that tragedies involving people of stature affect the lives of others. In the case of a king‚ the tragedy would not only involve the individual and his family‚ it would also involve the whole society. 2. Tragic Flaw (Hamartia): the tragic hero must "fall"
Premium Oedipus Sophocles Poetics
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is undoubtedly a tragedy given the circumstances presented in the play. More specifically‚ Macbeth’s tragic downfall is presented through his high position in society‚ his similar persona to that of an aristotelian tragic hero‚ but also the circumstances that separate him from the typical hero. Though Macbeth is not the average typical hero‚ his story is nonetheless a tragedy. Macbeth is ultimately a tragedy due to the series of events that took place in order for Macbeth’s
Premium Macbeth Tragic hero Tragedy
What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is someone of noble stature that is good but not perfect and has committed a fatal flaw. As a result of this flaw he is judged and has a downfall on his grand stature. He realizes his mistake‚ and learns from it. He then accepts his death with dignity. In the play The Crucible written in the early 1950’s by Arthur Miller‚ does John Proctor qualify as a tragic hero? During the playwright‚ John Proctor does have the elements to qualify as a tragic hero; he gives
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials Tragic hero
characterized as the tragic hero in the story. The argument that Antigone is the hero is deffinatly a strong one. There are many critics who believe that Creon‚ however‚ is the true protagonist of the play. In order to determine whether or not Creon is the tragic hero one must first examine what a tragic hero is. Aristotle states that a hero is neither purely innocent nor purely malevolent. A hero is usually born into high rank of society‚ and this person must possess a tragic flaw. This flaw normally
Premium Tragedy Sophocles Tragic hero
prince thus an heir to the Thebes throne‚ by adoption to Polybus and Merope he is a prince and the heir to the throne of Corinth and by election he becomes the king of Thebes. Oedipus example is used by Aristotle as an example of what a hero should be. He said that a hero should be someone like Oedipus or other men of such greatness‚ who are highly prosperous and renowned (Eden‚ 2014). It is seen that Oedipus is not a common ruler but a great king. Actually‚ the gods seemingly lead Oedipus astray purposely
Premium Oedipus Tragedy Sophocles