Arthur Miller was certainly aware of the nature of Greek tragedy and made a deliberate decision to use the structure of Greek drama as a basis for his play A View from the Bridge, as he had previously done for All My Sons. The central character, Eddie Carbone, fits well with the central figure in All My Sons and Death of a Salesman, being a family patriarch who has also been a complete failure as a father. He has no children of his own, so he looks after his wife's young niece. Over time, he has developed unconscious sexual feelings toward her, affecting everyone around him. Eddie is an ordinary man living among other ordinary men. The high-born nature of the traditional tragic hero is gone now, though Carbone can be seen as a middle-class version of a high-born hero because he is respected in his community and the head…...

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Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. Arthur Miller. New York: Chelsea House, 1987.

Chanter, Tina. "Tragic Dislocations: Antigone's Modern Theatrics."

Differences, Volume 10, Issue 1 (1998), 75-97.

Miller, Arthur. A View from the Bridge. New York: Viking, 1959.

Tragic Hero begins with an examination of Oedipus ex. But, while he is the archetype of this particular literary character, Hamlet is, perhaps, the most well developed and psychologically complex of tragic heroes. For the Greeks, all things in life are preordained, which is what makes for the tragedy of Oedipus - his attempt to make his own destiny. Over the course of time, however, while the form of the tragic hero did not change, the reason for his being tragic did. The social world of the enaissance had shifted from a philosophy of determinism to one of individualism - that we all have the choice to accept or deny our relationship with God. This makes Hamlet a tragic hero who is punished not for a flaunting of destiny, but because he is mad. It is the purpose of this paper to examine both Oedipus ex and Hamlet as…...

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Referenced

Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Penguin Classics, 1987.

Sophocles. The Oedipus Cycle. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1977.

Oedipus as Tragic Hero
In most dramatic plays, tragedy usually strikes the protagonist of the play and leads him, or her, to experience devastating losses. hile tragic instances can be avoided, there are other instances where one's fate and future is out of the protagonist's control. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles and first performed around 249 BC, Oedipus cannot escape his destiny and even though he tries to overcome and circumvent prophecy, he finds out that supernatural forces will get what they want in the end. Oedipus meets the criteria of a tragic hero set forth by Aristotle and his fate within the play demonstrates that one does not always have free will in their lives.

Traditionally, in Greek drama, tragedy is meant to reaffirm the concept that life is worth living and that people are in constant opposition with the universe. Action within Greek tragedies commonly comes from inner…...

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Works Cited

"Archetypes, Myths, and Heroes." Seven Valleys Software. 1998. Web. 18 April 2012.

"Aristotle." VCCS LitOnline. Virginia Community College. Web. 18 April 2012.

Aristotle. "Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy in the POETICS." Ed. Barbara F.

McManus. November 1999. Web. 18 April 2012.

Othello as Tragic Hero
hile Othello is not Greek and Shakespeare is not a Greek playwright, Othello embodies many characteristics of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle.

hat is a tragic hero?

Person who is neither perfect in virtue and justice, nor someone who falls into misfortune through vice and depravity, but rather, one who succumbs through some miscalculation.

Othello is manipulated by Iago to murder Desdemona

Iago uses Othello's trusting nature against him

Hero falls because of tragic flaw/hamartia

Tragic choices are made through free will

No one forces Othello to act as he did, Iago simply pushes him iii. Tragic flaws include jealousy, stubbornness, and misplaced trust

Misplaced trust

Othello surrounds himself by people who want to destroy him -- Iago.

Iago sees Othello's trusting nature as a weapon

Iago attacks Othello because he was passed up for promotion iii. Iago attacks Othello because he hates him

b. Othello does not know who to trust/refuses to consider Iago might be…...

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Works Cited

Aristotle. (n.d.).Virginia Community College System. Accessed 7 October 2012, from http://vccslitonline.cc.va.us/tragedy/aristotle.htm.

Arthos, John. (1958). The Fall of Othello. Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol. 9, No. 2. pp.

93-104.

Boas, George. (1955). The evolution of the tragic hero. The Carleton Drama Review, Vol. 1, No.

First, he burns their crops. When they seek revenge for that, Samson defeats an untold number of them. All of these incidents are merely preludes to the first real battle, which occurs when Samson is a prisoner facing overwhelming odds. The Philistines demand that the Israelites hand over Samson, so they bind him with ropes and hand him over. However, "The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men." (Judges 15: 14-15).
Furthermore, Samson is initially successful over his second wife, Delilah's attempts to betray him to the Philistines. She repeatedly asks him for the secret to his strength and he repeatedly gives her false answers. However, each time that he gives her a false answer, she attempts to use that answer to betray him to the…...

As a tragic hero therefore, Oedipus does not err because his character is somehow flawed. Instead, his inevitable fall is caused by an error of judgment: instead of accepting his own fate, he tries to find out the truth about his origin and thus begins the quest that will lead to his dramatic end. Oedipus' almost paranoid search for the truth of his birth shows him as a social nonconformist who is urged to seek answers rather than meekly accept ignorance and his given lot. hen he is close to finding out the whole truth of his birth Oedipus declares himself confident in accepting whatever may come, and seems to resign himself to his fate: "But I / ho rank myself as Fortune's favorite child, / the giver of good gifts, shall not be shamed. / She is my mother and the changing moons / My brethren, and with them…...

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Works Cited

Sophocles. Oedipus Rex, in Four Famous Greek Plays edited by Paul Landis. New York: The Modern Library, 1929.

A short time later, Oedipus comes across Jocasta who has hung herself. He immediately blinds himself with her brooches in a fit of madness brought on by the recent developments. Oedipus ultimately seeks to banish himself out of the Kingdom to escape his reality and for the good of the people of Thebes.
Conclusion

Oedipus fits the classic model of an Aristotelian tragic hero very neatly. First, Oedipus exhibits and is known to possess fine moral character, as is evident from his pattern of behavior displayed throughout the entire play. Next, he develops a tragic flaw or mistake which is an obsession with avoiding his prophecy. This is a human frailty on the part of Oedipus and not an instance of depravity or moral turpitude. The demise of Oedipus is fairly swift and sweeping as his kingdom, family and reputation are all ruined. Aristotle believes that a tragic hero must be…...

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Reference List

Aristotle. Poestics. The Internet Classic Archive. Web. Accessed 4 October 2010.

 http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.html 

Belfiore, Elizabeth. Tragic Pleasures: Aristotle on Plot and Emotion. Princeton (1992), p. 176.

Dawe, R.D. ed. Sophocles: Oedipus Rex. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2006). p.1

Aristotle studied literary theory in his book, Poetics, and in this study he defined and provided ideas about the concept of tragedy. Tragedy for Aristotle is defined as, "an imitation of life in the form of a serious story that is complete in itself; in other words, the story must be realistic and narrow in focus." He characterized a "good tragedy" if it brings about a feeling of "fear and/or pity" in it viewers. Aristotle also conceived his own concept of the "hero of tragedy" or tragic hero. He enumerated several ideas on the different characteristics that identify tragic heroes. These characteristics will be discussed later in the body of the paper. An example of a tragic story is William Shakespeare's tragic play, Hamlet. Hamlet, the primary character in the story, is considered a "tragic hero" because he possesses the qualities that Aristotle identifies as the characteristics of a tragic…...

Thesis Statement Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragic hero according to the definition of Aristotle. First, he is a man of noble stature. Second, he is good—but not perfect—and his fall is directly attributable to his own guilty actions. Third, his fall is tragic—the combination of his greatness and his own responsibility in causing his own fall. Fourth, the misfortune Othello suffers is enormous and due to the fact that he himself is larger than life. Fifth, the fall that Othello suffers does come with an increase of awareness—self-knowledge that restores a bit of his wisdom and nobility before the curtain falls; he exits not cursing his fate but taking responsibility for his own crimes and acknowledging the justice delivered upon himself. Sixth, the play achieves a cathartic effect by arousing pity and fear in the audience in which the emotions are purified or purged; instead of feeling depressed by what has…...

Medea as Tragic Hero
The pattern of the tragic hero was first defined by Aristotle. Aristotle's work The Poetics discusses the art of Greek tragedy, and defines the rules for a tragic protagonist. If we examine these rules from Aristotle alongside the Medea of Euripides, we may see how Euripides observes or breaks the classic pattern. I suggest that Euripides observes more rules than he violates, to better emphasize those aspects in which he differs from the Aristotelian norm.

The first part of the pattern of a tragic hero is discussed by Aristotle in Poetics Chapter V. Here, Aristotle defines what will come to be known as "the unities":

They differ, again, in their length: for Tragedy endeavors, as far as possible, to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun, or but slightly to exceed this limit, whereas the Epic action has no limits of time. (Poetics V)

This means that a…...

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Works Cited

Aristotle, The Poetics. Translated by S.H. Butcher. Internet Classics Archive. Accessed 15 April 2011 at:  http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.html 

Euripides, Medea. Translated by E.P. Coleridge. Internet Classics Archive. Accessed 15 April 2011 at:  http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/medea.html

Sophocles
According to Aristotle, the tragic hero's suffering results from an error (hamartia) he or she makes. Does Antigone make a mistake, and if so, of what kind?

Sophocles wrote the play Antigone in 441 BC in which the emotions of loyalty, love and honor are found in conflict of each other as Antigone ignores Creon's law and follows that of the Gods, by burying her brother, Polynices who otherwise has died a traitor.

In this regard, Antigone shows nothing but pure, unadulterated love for her brother, coupled with the need to fulfill what has been written above that of Creon and the laws of man.

Antigone therefore does not make a mistake in wanting to bury her brother and disobey Creon, as she states in "As for the poor corpse of Polynices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him,…...

Hero
One of the most pervasive archetypes in literature is the hero. The Greeks presented a complex and very human type of hero, often referred to as the tragic hero. eaders can relate especially to tragic heroes because tragic heroes have flaws. Their flaws make tragic heroes more human, and are effective protagonists even when their plans fail. The hero who is semi-divine or divine is a less compelling story, given that few if any human beings can relate to a figure who is flawless, immortal, and possessing of unlimited strength. Graphic novels present complex characters including some that fit the definition of tragic hero. Modern literature teems with examples of heroes who are just like us: they have good intentions, they are far from perfect, and they sometimes fail. Yet embedded in the definition of hero is the imperative that the individual must be able to put aside egotism, and…...

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References

Franklin, J.H. (n.d.). The train from hate. Retrieved online:  http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/scraig/Franklin.htm 

Knight, E. (n.d.). Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane. Retrieved online:  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15411 

Quinonez, E. (2000). Bodega Dreams. Vintage.

The positive value that most people place on a character's ability to face their demons is traditionally what defines a "hero." What defines a "tragic hero" is when facing those demons is too much for the protagonist to handle, which is the case in this play. But this lack of unwavering strength and courage is what makes the character of Oedipus seem human, and therefore relatable to the audience. If his reaction to the truth had shown nothing but strength, he would seem more like a cardboard cut-out than a human being.
A hero is more noble and more human when he must overcome his flaws and life's adversities. This may be why literary heroes have appealed to readers across many different cultures and over many different eras in history; because they represent the deepest and most respected ideals of human behavior, without extending too far beyond the constraints of…...

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References

Segal, C. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge, New York, 1993

Sophocles, Dawe, R.D. (ed.) Sophocles: Oedipus Rex, Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed., 2006

It recounts the travails of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus the former king of Thebes, who disobeys King Creon in burying the body of her slain brother. She knows that she faces death for doing this, but insists that she does not care, saying "For whoso lives, as I, in many woes,
/ How can it be but death shall bring him gain? / And so for me to bear this doom of thine / Has nothing painful" (Arrowsmith, lines 508-12). Antigone does not see meaninglessness in death, but rather is willing to face death for the symbolic gesture of burying her brother. This illustrates her own tragic quest for truth; like Gilgamesh (and Creon), she is frustrated by the rules and order imposed by a mortal government, and feels that it pales in comparison to the divine moral laws such as those regarding the treatment of the dead and the…...

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Works Cited

Arrowsmith, William. Antigone. New York: San Val, 1999.

Mason, Herbert. Gilgamesh. New York: Mariner, 2003.

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Washington D.C.: Folgers, 1997.

He complains that his name "is now begrimed and black" (3.3.384) and fears that Desdemona has made him a "fixed figure for the time of scorn" (4.2.53). His fears might be those of any man, insecure in his position, concerned about how he is viewed. Thus, both heroes are true to life in that each has his own particular faults, like any man.
Aristotle's fourth condition of the tragic hero is "consistency: for though the subject of imitation…be inconsistent, still he must be consistently inconsistent" (43). As Aristotle suggests, both characters are inconsistently consistent, though in their own ways. Oedipus bounces from being high-minded, caring and affectionate to being almost simple-minded, careless and angry any time his pride is pricked. For example, even when the evidence all points to the truth of what the priest says, Oedipus is reluctant to admit it; yet when his wife tries to undermine what…...

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Works Cited

Aristotle. Poetics. (trans. By Gerald Else). MI: University of Michigan Press, 1970.

Print.

Lattimore, S. "Oedipus and Teiresias." California Studies in Classical Antiquity,

8 (1975): 105-111.

1. The theme of ambition in Shakespeare's Macbeth
2. The character development of Lady Macbeth throughout the play
3. The role of the supernatural in Macbeth
4. Gender roles and expectations in Macbeth
5. The motif of blood in Macbeth
6. The concept of fate and free will in Macbeth
7. The manipulation and guilt of Macbeth
8. The downfall of a tragic hero in Macbeth
9. The relationship between violence and power in Macbeth
10. The significance of loyalty and betrayal in Macbeth
11. The portrayal of masculinity in Macbeth and how it contributes to the characters' actions and motivations
12. The use of imagery and symbolism in Macbeth to....

Macbeth: A Tragic Hero's Descent into Madness

The Role of Ambition in Macbeth's Downfall: Explore how Macbeth's unrestrained ambition, fueled by the witches' prophecies, leads him from a noble warrior to a tyrannical king.

The Influence of Lady Macbeth on Macbeth's Actions: Examine the extent to which Lady Macbeth's manipulative and ruthless nature drives Macbeth's decisions and accelerates his descent into evil.

The Theme of Guilt and Punishment: Analyze how the guilt of murdering Duncan haunts Macbeth and manifests itself in his mental and physical deterioration.

The Supernatural in Macbeth

The Witches and Their Role in Macbeth's Fate: Discuss the significance....

1. Analyze Ethan Frome as a tragic hero, considering his flaws and the events that ultimately lead to his downfall.
2. Discuss the theme of isolation in Ethan Frome, exploring how characters such as Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie experience loneliness and alienation.
3. Compare and contrast the contrasting settings of Starkfield and the Frome household to illustrate the stifling atmosphere that permeates the novel.
4. Explore the role of fate and destiny in Ethan Frome, considering how the characters' choices and actions are ultimately determined by external forces.
5. Examine the theme of duty and responsibility in the novel, focusing on how Ethan's sense....

The Crucible: A Literary Exploration of Power, Hysteria, and the Perils of Accusation

Introduction

Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is a timeless masterpiece that examines the destructive consequences of fear, paranoia, and mass hysteria. Set during the Salem witch trials of the 17th century, the play offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the ease with which individuals can be manipulated into becoming both victims and perpetrators of injustice. This essay will explore various topics pertaining to "The Crucible," delving into the complex themes of power, hysteria, and the perils of accusation that are at the heart of the....