Tragic Heroes Essay Research Paper Since the

Tragic Heroes Essay, Research Paper Since the beginning of time, people discussed and analyzed the concept of the tragic hero in epic poetry and other stories. An epic poem consists of a hero of high caliber whose actions affect a nation or a group of people. The deeds of this hero must be exceedingly brave and have supernatural elements. Many of these stories first began as an oral tradition then eventually became written pieces of literature. ?Oral literature comprises a vast range of verbal products, including modern blues lyrics, African drum songs, ancient Greek epic poetry, folk tales, etc….? Even when the heroes are characters of different authors, they share common characteristics and abide by certain personality traits which define them as heroes. A hero is an example of valiancy and intelligence. In times of danger a hero must remain strong, brave, and audacious. Many epic poems consist of tragedy?s. Tragedies consist of several key points. First, they cannot be discussed and must be able to be acted out. They also include a hero of high stature and nobility. The tragic hero must have a tragic flaw, such as an excess of pride, ambition, passion, or some other trait that leads directly to disaster. Aristotle describes that the key element to a tragedy is that it should invoke Catharsis. The spectators should be purged of their emotions of pity and fear through their vicarious participation in the drama. In the Greek times, these plays were the center of their culture and society. They used tragedies to demonstrate how fragile their own lives could be. If a hero couldn?t escape fate and pain then either could they. It also enforced the theory that no one is above the gods and no person can control their destiny. Finally, a tragedy must employ formal, poetic writing with the use of noble language. Four stories that demonstrate a tragedy which a tragic hero are Hamlet, Beowulf, Frankenstein, and Oedipus Rex. These stories show how the tragic hero had evolved throughout history and how our changing society has impacted it. The epic poem Beowulf, author unknown, discusses the meaning of a hero in there primitive society. A nefarious monster named Grendel comes to plague Heorot, the mead hall of Hrothgar, king of the Danes. The monster battles in the hall for 12 years before Beowulf, prince of the Geats, comes to destroy this villainous creature. Beowulf engages the monster when it broke into the hall one night and kills him by ripping off his arms. Grendel?s mother seeks revenge by stealing one of the Danes and Beowulf dives down into the monster?s lair in the nearby lake, and kills Grendel?s mother with a sword sent from the gods. Beowulf returns home to become king of the Geats. After many years a Geatish slave breaks into the lair of a dragon which wakes him. The dragon begins to ravage the countryside before Beowulf faces this ferocious beast with the help of his retainer Wicglaf. Beowulf was mortally wounded in the battle but with his remaining strength, was able to defeat the dragon. Wicglaf returns to the Geats to proclaim Beowulf?s accomplishment. Beowulf is considered a hero because he a man of exceptional quality. According to Talvin Walter, ?The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero.? Men of this time were godless, fearless, fame seeking, strong, and most of all, courageous. Warriors were in search of these things and often achieved them through completing daring deeds, withstanding harsh conditions, or beating the odds. ?There are also noble things in Beowulf- not only loyalty and dauntless courage but courtesy in the hall and respect for ladies; the style too has a grave dignity throughout; and the figure of the old king going out to fight to die for his people, is truly heroic.? (Grierson 3) Beowulf?s self-imposed purpose was to help others in need, and eventually sacrifices his own life doing so. He was a courageous man willing to risk his life in order to help the Danes. He traveled to another land in order to rid the Danes of the nuisance of the monster. A hero must be a risk taker and willing to give his life for his country. When Beowulf was discussing the attack on Grendel with Hrothgar, he states that his bravery might ultimately lead to his own death. He was aware of chance that he might experience a cruel and torturous death by the hands of the monster. ?You will not need to hide my head if death takes me, for he will have me blood-smeared; he will bear away my bloody flesh meaning to savor it, he will eat ruthlessly, the walker alone, will stain his retreat in the moor; no longer will you need to trouble yourself to take care of my body. If battle takes me, send to Hygelac the best war-clothes that protects my breast, finest of mail-shirts. Fate always goes as it must.? Also, during this time, armor and weapons were a vital part to being a well-known hero. Armor was passed down from generation to generation. Lavish and fancy armor signified that the warrior of his ancestors accomplished heroic tasks. Swords were also a significant to the warriors of this time period. In Beowulf, there were also many references to swords. There are three swords in the story. These include Naegling, Beowulf?s sword, Hrunting, the sword lent by Unferth, and the magic sword used against Grendel?s mother. A prime example of Aristotle?s view of tragedy is Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Oedipus was kind of Thebes as was his father. He was a good, just king and he saved Thebes from the Sphinx. His tragic flaw was his arrogance. He made interpretations of the Oracle?s prophecy and acted on them without consulting the oracle himself, nor does he seek the answers elsewhere. He just runs off and defies fate. There are a number of characteristics described by Aristotle that identify a tragic hero. First, the hero must have cause his own downfall and the punishment must exceed the crime. Oedipus makes a few fatal decisions and is condemned to profound suffering because of them. Even though he does not know it, he fulfills the oracles prophecy by killing his father, Laius, and then marrying his mother, Jocasta. However, his father was just a mistake. Oedipus thought that the person killed was just some random person harassing him. In the play, Oedipus? misfortune happens because of his tragic flaw. If he hadn?t been so judgmental or narcissistic, he would have never been so oblivious about Laius? death. The oracle informs Oedipus that the plague is a curse from the gods for sheltering the murderer of the previous king. He then orders any citizen of Thebes that has information on the murder must come forward. The killer would face nothing worse than exile. ?This murderer, no matter who he is, is banished from the country where my power and my throne are supreme.? Oedipus is then encountered by a blind prophet Teiresias which is the first time he was confronted with the idea that he might have fulfilled the prophecy. When Teiresias tries to warn him by saying, ?This day will give you parents and destroy you, Oedipus still doesn?t care and continues to question him. Oedipus realizes he may be the culprit and starts to discover the truth about his past. This tragic king then learns he is the murderer and who his true mother is and replies ?Oh, oh, then everything has come out true. Light, I shall not look on you Again. I have been born where I should not born, I have been married where I should not marry, I have killed whom I should not kill; now all is clear.? He is now aware how blind and naive he has been and how his negligence has led to his downfall. In a state of shock and trauma, he gouges out his own eyes so he will not be able to see what the world has done to him. ?What use are my eyes to me, who could never- See anything pleasant again?? His stubbornness and negligence led to his downfall and the devastation of life and his throne. Oedipus learns a lesson about life and how there is more to it than just one person?s fate. Arguably the best piece of writing ever done by William Shakespeare, Hamlet is the classic example of a tragedy. ?Aristotle states that tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude.? Hamlet is a great example of this. The play is centered around Hamlet?s quest to avenge his father?s death by killing his uncle. Hamlet also follows Aristotle?s idea of the tragedy being of a large magnitude. The characters are supposed to be of high nobility. Hamlet is a wealthy prince, however he deals with similar problems as the common man. He is confused, paranoid, and angered about the circumstances surrounding his fathers death. Aristotle also feels that in order for a play to be called a tragedy it must invoke fear and pity. Hamlet, an innocent bi-stander, suffers immense misfortune which causes the audience to worry that bad situations could happen to them. Hamlet is the perfect example of the tragic hero. He is very brave and daring. He put his life on the line in order to murder his uncle . He was also very intelligent. He was first able to act insane in order to try to prove his uncle?s guilt. ?That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft.? This statement reveals Hamlet?s intent to fool people with his odd behavior. Later in the play a troop of actors come to act out a play, and Hamlet has them reenact the murder of his father in front of his uncle Claudius. He is also very loyal. He stood by his father when everyone, including his mother, moved on and forgot about his father. The audience is also able to feel sympathy towards this character. He has been through many tragedies in a short time, such as his father?s death, mother remarriage, and Ophelia?s death. Hamlet?s tragic flaw was his indecision. His dilemma is not about what decisions he should take but rather whether he will be able to make any decisions at all. Jean-Louis Barrault said of him that ?he is the hero of unparalleled hesitation.? According to Charles Boyce, Hamlet?s notorious procrastination of his revenge has a similar function. Though he accepts the Ghost?s orders, he senses the evil in his duty sent from heaven and hell.? (Boyce 18) This eventually leads to his downfall. These attributes are what made Hamlet a tragic hero. 321