Achilles a Tragic Hero Essay example - 1166 Words

Achilles as Tragic Hero In his classic work Poetics Aristotle provided a model of the tragic hero. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero is more admirable than the average person. This results in the tragic hero being admired by the audience. For the audience to accept a tragic ending as just, it is crucial that the tragic hero be responsible for their undoing. At the same time though, they must remain admired and respected. This is achieved by the tragic hero having a fatal flaw that leads to their undoing. One of literatures examples of the tragic hero is Achilles from Homers The Iliad. However, Achilles is different from the classic tragic hero in one major way - his story does not end tragically. Unlike the usual†¦show more content†¦This illustrates that Achilles can be considered as being more admirable than the average person. This is also expressed in the poem, such as where Apollo refers to Achilles saying, Let that man beware, or great and glorious as he is, / We mighty god s will wheel on him in anger - look, / He outrages the senseless clay in all his fury! (Homer, XXIV 58-60). This passage recognizes Achilles as great and glorious. This passage also mentions the fatal flaw, which is the second requirement of Aristotles hero. Achilles fatal flaw is his tendency to go to extremes out of anger. Apollo recognizes this where he refers to Achilles fury. This fatal flaw is also expressed in the opening lines of the poem, Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus son Achilles, / murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses (Homer, I 1-2). The rage that is spoken of first causes Achilles to react and refuse to join the battle. When Patroclos is killed, it then causes Achilles to react again, with his rage driving him too far. This allows the audience to see that Achilles is a great man, while having a fatal flaw that leads to his own undoing. The final aspect of the tragic hero is that his life ends tragically because of his downfall. If Achilles fit with this model perfectly, he would become aware of his excessive rage at the end of the poem. However, while he did become a better personShow MoreRelatedAchilles: The Tragic Hero Essay920 Words   |  4 Pagesstrength of the swift runner, Achilles. Achilles had the attributes of a perfect warrior with his god-like speed and combat abilities. However, even though he was Greek’s greatest warrior, he still possessed several flaws that made him fit the role of the Tragic Hero impeccably. Defined by Aristotle, a Tragic Hero is someone who possesses a high status of nobility and greatness, but must have imperfections so that mere mortals cannot relate to the hero. Lastly, the Tragic Hero’s downfall must be partiallyRead MoreAchilles Is The First Tragic Hero1918 Words   |  8 PagesTHESIS STATEMENT Euripides’ Achilles is seen as the first tragic hero because he has all the criteria of a tragic hero - high social position, undergoes reversal of fortune, and a tragic flaw - but he does not have a tragic downfall. PURPOSE STATEMENT Through critical essays, research, and reading The Iliad, it can be perceived that Achilles is the first tragic hero in dramatic history. INTRODUCTION Throughout The Iliad, it is debated whether Achilles is the tragic hero or Hector. Looking at theRead MoreAchilles : A Tragic Hero1604 Words   |  7 Pagesthe last year of the Trojan War, but also the tale of the hero Achilles. In the Iliad, Achilles is a very complex hero who, known for his rage, determines both his own destiny and the fate of a nation and its people. Achilles may be remembered for his anger, but that doesn’t define who he is as a character. 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Agamemnon, the king of MycenaeRead MoreCharacteristics Of A Tragic Hero944 Words   |  4 Pagesclassification for a character to be known as a tragic hero is that the so-call hero has some type a flaw that causes cloudiness in his/her judgment, and leads to the downfall of himself/herself or those around him/her. In Aristotle s Poetics, he describes what characteristics a tragic hero will mostly like have, since both Euripides s Medea and Homer s Achilles have downfalls that not only affect them but also the those around them, they should be classified as tragic heroes by Aristotle s definition andRead MoreAristotle and the Tragic Hero1067 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle and the Tragic Hero The traditional hero stresses courage and nobility as essential traits of heroism. He lived by a code of honor and valued certain things as more important than others, so that he is willing to take risks and endure hardships for their sake. He is often a leader and protector of a community. 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