Favourite Tragic Heros

Posted by Woodchuck on April 28, 2003

In Reply to: Favourite Tragic Heros posted by Word Camel on April 28, 2003

: : : : : : : : : Can someone plz e-mail me a quote from shakespeare, or anything that has to do with tragic hero, specifically romeo. I am writing an essay, and i'm looking for a good introduction, somewhere along the lines of, what makes a tragic hero, tis more nobler to die for love then to die for oneself, or anything that would do as a good opening. I really need help, so plz e-mail me, i'd greatly appreciate it.

: : : : : : : : : sincerely
: : : : : : : : : Vudoodude@hotmail.com

: : : : : : : : But what do YOU think? Wouldn't you be better off with your own point to view, instead of borrowing someone else's words? Opinions about Romeo vary all over the place: some see him as the embodiment of tragic hero; others find evidence to call him an immature, impulsive fool, thinking with his glands (not exactly a rare affliction for teenage boys with a crush, and hardly the stuff of tragedy). I'd be willing to guess you're not far from Romeo in age; If you were Mercutio, how would you advise your friend? Are the ancient hatreds of the two families impossible to overcome? Is Romeo just a byproduct of the gang warfare?

: : : : : : : : And yo dude work on the spelling before you turn in the essay. Plz.

: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Thanks for the help, but I was thinking of something more along the lines of famous quotes from philosphers, or something like that. I'm just asking for help from people who share my view point, and possibly from those who debate against it, because then I may be able to answer questions that may relate in the essay. This way, I can create a better essay that not only serves it's purpose of speaking of my supporting side, but also leave those who do not share the same view points to at least think things over again.

: : : : : : Yeah, I know. Eventually, you'll find, and drag out, Aristotle on tragic flaw, and your work will be done. But - speaking as one who used to teach Shakespeare (during the last ice age) - I can tell you that 45% of your classmates will, too. There are very few guarantees in life, but I can guarantee you this: your teacher will be happier to see an original thought that represents a genuine point of view, however you express it, than to see Aristotle pro-and-con one more time.

: : : : : : Then again, my guarantee depends on your teacher being a thnking human being who appreciates a little original effort, not a robot who expects the conventional. Hmmm. I may have given you dangerous advice. You can google "tragic flaw" and give poor old Aristotle one more go.

: : : : : I was just watching the old movie "Wuthering Heights." Now there's love and death for you. Heathcliff was more like a tragic villain though.

: : : : : Bible, Song of Solomon 8:6
: : : : : Place me like a seal over your heart,
: : : : : like a seal on your arm;
: : : : : for love is as strong as death,
: : : : : its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
: : : : : It burns like blazing fire,
: : : : : like a mighty flame.

: : : : "The only regret I will have in dying is if it is not for love." Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "Love in the Time of Cholera." He also said, "Love is eternal as long as it lasts."

: : : : "For heaven be thanked, we live in such an age,
: : : : When no man dies for love, but on the stage."
: : : : John Dryden, "Mithridates," Epilogue.

: : : : "Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love." Shakespeare, "As You Like It." Rosalind, in disguise, to Orlando.

: : : "Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Notebooks."

: : Having been one who (also during the last Ice Age) also wrote too many essays on tragic heroes for people like Bob to peruse with a heavy heart, I'll give the original poster a one word clue - harmatia. However, I also recommend that you try to project as much of your own individual judgement into your essay as possible.

: : Personally speaking, I always intensely disliked both Romeo and Juliet. Saps, the pair of them.

:
: I'm not sure it's fair to say Romeo and Juliet really had fatal flaws other than the fact that they were, as my mother is fond of describing it, "young and stupid." We were all young and stupid once. Some of us even wore cowboy boots.

: Personally, I always sympathised with Brutus. His tragic flaw was one I think many of us can relate to. The most interesting flaws are those that persist when we are old enough to know better.

I've always seen Juliet as a sort of female Hamlet and Romeo as Ophelia. Juliet and Hamlet both have plans that call for a daring ruse, but Romeo and Ophelia are easily discouraged and passive people who would rather off themselves or retreat into madness than cope with "reality" - in quotes because of course if they'd just hung around a little longer they would've discovered reality wasn't what they thought it was!

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