Pride as a Tragic Flaw or Heroic Trait

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Pride as a Tragic Flaw or Heroic Trait In many modern works, such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, pride is tragic flaw, and the undoing of great heroes. However, in Homer’s The Iliad, It is not clear as to whether pride is a trait to loathe or to love. Substantial arguments can be made on both sides, since both the hero Achilleus who ultimately is a victor, and the hero Hektor, who eventually loses his life both posses a desire for honor and glory. Homer uses these two characters to contrast the effects of pride on the hero and their respective outcomes. Achilleus desire for honor is evident to us in the first chapter of the book. His refusal to fight after being dishonored by Agamemnon influences the events for the entire beginning of the novel. Achilleus sits by the waterside and weeps for his hurt feelings, and action we would never expect from a modern day hero Homer illustrates the severity of this injury when he includes the action of Achilleus sitting by the waterside crying, and then pleading to his mother. This action, which a reader would never expect from a great warrior and hero, simply emphasizes the intensity of Achilleus pride. Much later in the epic, Agamemnon sends ambassadors to beg for Achilleus’ help, we see the destructive side of his actions. Phoinix warns Achilleus, that while not directly or immediately influencing him, his actions could lead to his own demise (book 9). Phoinix tells of Meleagros, a man who is insulted and then refuses to fight until necessity knocks on his door. By the time Meleagros chooses to fight, he receives no honor for his actions. Ironically, Meleagros’ wife is Kleopatra, a name that has the same meaning as Patroklos. Homer us... ... middle of paper ... ...pecially since the war is his brother Alexandros’ fault and not his. However, Hektor decides to fight, not just to protect his comrades, but also because he understands that if he waits until the Greeks are ready to invade his personal space, he will only be fighting for his life, and will be looked down upon for waiting so long, just as Phoinix suggests will happen to Achilleus. Both tragic heroes are motivated by their desire to achieve honor and glory, and by their characteristic of pride. However, the effects of this trait are different for the two. Hektor is blinded when he is overcome by sparatic moments of arrogance and engagers himself and his people. Achilleus is so consumed by his emotion of pride that it motivates all his actions and choices. While this gives him honor and glory, just like Hektor it also is the definite path to the end of his life.

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