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One’s Perfect: The Tragic hero
The tragic hero is a great, strong, or noble character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined to suffer defeat. He may make a bad choice, he may have a flaw or weakness of character, or he may be a victim of circumstances beyond his control. The tragic hero is an appealing character because most everyone can identify with him. We see our own weaknesses or pride reflected in him. We feel pity for him and fear for what he will suffer.
Often the tragic hero accomplishes something worthy for others, but gives up his own life. Usually the tragic hero is a nobleman or leader who can influence the fate of many other people. The hero dies, but his death has meaning. Sometimes the tragic hero is aware of his flaw from the start, and sometimes he learns too late.
Shakespeare used the tragic hero in some of his plays. Hamlet's fatal flaw was failing to do his duty, to kill Claudius. He does finally act, but by that time many other people have died and Hamlet also dies. Although he starts off showing great bravery in battle, Macbeth's flaw was ambition. He wanted to be the king. He allowed his wife to influence him too much. Macbeth's character degenerates to a power hungry and violent man.
Thorin Oakenshield is a tragic hero in Tolkein's The Hobbit. He leads a company of dwarfs on a quest for a treasure but he is unwilling to share the glory, or the gold, with any of them. He shows noble strength in battle, but his flaw is pride and it brings him to a tragic end. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books can be described as a tragic hero. He is not good and noble. He was a cruel teacher who didn't like Harry. We question his loyalty through the series. But Snape eventually proved he was loyal to Dumbledore. His love for Lily made him sacrifice his life for her boy, whom he hated.
The tragic hero makes us see the best and the worst in a person. It shows that everyone has some bad and some good. And it shows that what matters most is the choice one makes.
The tragic hero is a great, strong, or noble character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined to suffer defeat. He may make a bad choice, he may have a flaw or weakness of character, or he may be a victim of circumstances beyond his control. The tragic hero is an appealing character because most everyone can identify with him. We see our own weaknesses or pride reflected in him. We feel pity for him and fear for what he will suffer.
Often the tragic hero accomplishes something worthy for others, but gives up his own life. Usually the tragic hero is a nobleman or leader who can influence the fate of many other people. The hero dies, but his death has meaning. Sometimes the tragic hero is aware of his flaw from the start, and sometimes he learns too late.
Shakespeare used the tragic hero in some of his plays. Hamlet's fatal flaw was failing to do his duty, to kill Claudius. He does finally act, but by that time many other people have died and Hamlet also dies. Although he starts off showing great bravery in battle, Macbeth's flaw was ambition. He wanted to be the king. He allowed his wife to influence him too much. Macbeth's character degenerates to a power hungry and violent man.
Thorin Oakenshield is a tragic hero in Tolkein's The Hobbit. He leads a company of dwarfs on a quest for a treasure but he is unwilling to share the glory, or the gold, with any of them. He shows noble strength in battle, but his flaw is pride and it brings him to a tragic end. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books can be described as a tragic hero. He is not good and noble. He was a cruel teacher who didn't like Harry. We question his loyalty through the series. But Snape eventually proved he was loyal to Dumbledore. His love for Lily made him sacrifice his life for her boy, whom he hated.
The tragic hero makes us see the best and the worst in a person. It shows that everyone has some bad and some good. And it shows that what matters most is the choice one makes.
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