Achilles Tragic Hero

227 Words1 Page

Achilles can be described as a tragic hero in many ways. He was a courageous and had great power, but he was full of himself and had no control over his emotions. A tragic hero is an entity that makes a fault in their judgment, or has a mortal defect that, combined with chance and external forces, brings on a tragedy. He has all the qualities of tragic hero. To lots of people Achilles was like a god. In the Iliad he is driven by anger, and seeks revenge on Hector for killing his closest friend Patroclus.
Achilles can be defined as a hero because essence he fought for his friend, and he got the revenge that he was desiring. He killed Hector who killed his best friend Patroclus. Achilles was a valiant soldier in battle and shed tears when his

Show More
Related

  • Achilles' Heroism in 'The Iliad'

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the introduction of the Essential Illiad given by Sheila Murnaghan, Achilles is labeled as “the greatest of the Greek heroes”. In classic mythology a hero is a person of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits and is often the offspring of a mortal and a god. Achilles was the greatest fighter among the Greeks or Trojans and feared no man in battle. He was also the offspring of a mortal and a god so by classic mythology definition, Achilles was indeed a hero. A hero is defined by the present day Websters Dictionary as: “one who inspires through manners and actions; an individual who leads through personal example and accomplishments requiring bravery, skill, determination, and other admirable qualities.” Achilles, in no manner, fits this definition. By contemporary standards, he is instead a pathetic villain. Aside from being a kidnapper, rapist and murderer, Achilles proves to be emotionally weak, selfish, and malicious. Many times throughout the Illiad, Achilles is also referred to as “godlike”. The gods of Greek mythology were subject to the same emotions and character flaws as humans, and though privileged to some foresight, the gods had similar mental capacities as humans. What really set the gods apart were their powers (controlling the elements, changing their appearance, etc.), great strength, and immortality. Because of his great strength and apparent invincibility, it is easy to see why Achilles would...

    Read More

  • Tragic Heroes And Their Downfalls In Shakespeare's Othello

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dictionary.com defines a tragic hero as “a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat,” Othello is the obvious contender for the tragic hero in Othello, but Iago could also be considered a tragic hero. He starts off as a possible protagonist, but we quickly learn due to his antagonistic qualities that he is destined to be defeated in a grand way. Iago was eventually defeated in a grand way, he was sent to jail for

    Read More

  • Maximus As A Tragic Hero

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    A tragic hero is defined as a hero who makes a judgement error and it inevitably leads to his or her death as defined by aristotle. Aristotle is one of the most famous philosophers of ancient Greece. He had guidelines for the best tragedies and what has to be involved in the characteristics of a tragic hero. There were five non-negotiable traits that to be in a part of the tragic hero. 1.)They had to either be of noble or royal birth or had to have wisdom. 2.)They had to have hamartia which is a tragic or fatal flaw. Most tragic heroes died, few rarely survived. 3.)They must have a reversal of fortune brought about the heroes main error which causes them to die. 4.) The hero has to have anagnorisis or an epiphany, which is when the hero

    Read More

  • Achilles: Invincible Hero with a Fatal Flaw

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    A hero known for his invincibility. A warrior who fought in the Trojan War and killed many, but also died in battle. Achilles was hero who was dipped in River Styx as a baby by his mother to make him immortal. However, his mother did not contemplate that where she held him, his heel, would remain mortal resulting in his weakness. Achilles was trained by a wise centaur and became the brave warrior he was, he pretended to be a woman to avoid war, and he died by a poison arrow that pierced through his heel.

    Read More

  • Similarities And Differences Between Iliad And Othello

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Iliad, Achilles is the main protagonist. He is a demi-god and is the son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus who was the King of the Myrmidons. He was a Greek hero of the Trojan War. He falls in love with a battle prize called Briseis. He is to portray, “as a brave, loyal, cocky, intelligent and even superhuman soldier. In Achilles ' case, the word "superhuman" is literal; he is the result of a union between a god and a mortal.”(Harvard 1)

    Read More

  • Tragic Heroes: A Comparative Analysis Across Literature

    1397 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth, Brutus from Julius Ceasar, John Proctor from The Crucible, Hercules, Sirius Black from Harry Potter, and Spiderman all have a common fate, they are all tragic heroes. A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. Every hero has a downfall and a purpose; typically it is for the greater good for everyone else. In The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles, there are two characters that could be defined as tragic heroes, they are Antigone and Creon. Bounteous people do not envisage Antigone as a tragic hero, these people believe she was crazy, had no purpose, and did not help the kingdom. Although, countless people do not comprehend that she actually did save the citizens of Thebas, and tried to help Creon.

    Read More

  • Othello Dynamic Character

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet. Romeo. Othello. These men not only star in some of Shakespeare’s finest plays, but they are all classic examples of tragic heroes. A tragic hero is one who is courageous and admired but who has a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. Othello was one of the greatest military men of the time. He was highly respected among his superiors for both his military prowess and level headed nature. This was a man who could be in the heat of a battle and would remain collected. Though this great hero also had great shortcomings. Othello was naive, jealous, and concerned with public appearance. Othello is truly a dynamic character. As the play continues and his jealous increases, Othello gradually changes from a flawless military general into

    Read More

  • Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beowulf perfectly fits the definition of “tragic hero” as evidenced in the epic poem, Beowulf.  He is defiantly the hero in the story, but as a result of his tragic flaws of having too much pride and seeking fame, he loses his life and his kingdom falls into the hands of the enemy.

    Read More

  • Achilles As A Tragic Hero

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dictionary.com defines a tragic hero as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall (“Tragic Hero”). Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his own destruction (“English IV Class Discussion”, 2016). A tragic hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death; intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes; have a weakness, usually it is pride; and be faced with a very serious decision that he must make (“Tragic hero as defined by Aristotle”). Achilles, Hector, Beowulf, and Hamlet all exhibit these characteristics and, as a result, can be seen as prime examples of

    Read More

  • Achilles, the Idealistic Hero

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    When analyzing the Greek work the Iliad, Homer procures an idealistic hero with an internal conflict, which questions the values of his society and the Greek Heroic Code. The Greek Heroic Code includes respect, honor, and requirements to procure an exorbitant image. To be considered a Greek hero you must meet the perquisites and fulfill all of the aspects of the code. Achilleus was deemed a hero, he was the strongest and swiftest of the Achieans. Achilleus lived up to all of these aspects until his internal conflict began in the Iliad. Homers purpose in the ending of book XXIV is to restore Achilleus after his reconciliation with the Greek Heroic Code.

    Read More

  • Achilles: a Tragic Hero

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    Overall, it has been seen that Achilles meets the major requirements of a tragic hero. He is more admirable than the average person. He also has a fatal flaw that leads to his own undoing. However, unlike the normal tragic hero, Achilles is able to address his own flaw and prevent his downfall from spiralling to the point where his life ends tragically. Ultimately, Achilles is an almost-tragic hero who saves himself from tragedy. Ultimately, The Iliad is an almost-tragedy with hope, where the audience can see the tragic ending that had been narrowly avoided.

    Read More

  • Achilles: The Tragic Hero

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Iliad, the Greek epic documented by Homer that describes the battles and events of the ten year siege on Troy by the Greek army. Both Trojans and Greeks had their fair share of heroes and warriors, but none could match the skill and strength 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 partially their own fault through personal choice rather than by an evil act, while also appearing to be not entirely deserved of their unfortunate fate. Achilles is a true Tragic Hero because he withholds all of these traits. Achilles proves to be a good man that puts his loved ones first, reveals his tragic flaws of pride and anger, shows dynamic qualities as a character when his flaws are challenged, and has a moment of clarity at the end of his rage. Achilles truly exemplifies the qualities of a Tragic Hero.

    Read More

  • Winston Smith: A Tragic Hero

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    A tragic hero can be described as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is

    Read More

  • Achilles; the True Hero of the Iliad

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    Because he embodied Greek ideals, was ‘immortalized’ through his actions and glorious death, and was courageous, Achilles was an epic hero. Honor was of the utmost importance to both him and the entire Greek society, he chose to die a hero in battle, and he avenged the death of Patroclus even through mourning; Achilles is the true hero of the Iliad.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Tragic Heroes In Literature

    1703 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aristotle once mentioned, “A man doesn 't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” Throughout society, tragic heroes are always present within every type of literature. A tragic hero is depicted as someone who makes a judgement which leads to his or her own destruction. They follow the five characteristics in which they are born from nobility, are doomed to make the wrong judgement, possess a tragic flaw, are responsible for their own fate, and lastly convey emotions to the audience. Tragic heroes appear over and over again throughout literature, especially Greek plays, because they serve a purpose to convince the audience to pity and sympathize with them. Tragic heroes have flaws which allow the audience to relate and

    Read More

More about Achilles Tragic Hero

Open Document