Heroes can be pretty great, actually. But a lackluster hero isn’t going to hurt a work nearly as much as a lackluster villain. Christian Bale’s Batman is fine, but he’s nothing special; it’s the Joker that makes the Dark Knight a masterpiece. Similarly, I don’t feel particularly strongly about Luke in either…
“Julius Caesar”’ tells the tale of the assassination of Julius Caesar, perpetrated by his deepest trusted friend Brutus, and the devastating consequences that Brutus and Rome face afterwards. Consequently, Brutus is usually affixed with the title of tragic hero. However, out of all the conspirators, Shakespeare’s characterization of Brutus is the most ironic, counterintuitive, and undeserving…
Some people say that ignorance is bliss. In some cases, however, that may not be true. In Sophocles’ tragic play Oedipus Rex, the author uses a motif of sight and blindness through foreshadowing, in conjunction with Oedipus, and through irony to convey the idea that when someone thinks they know what is right but are actually ignorant to the truth, that will most likely cause their downfall. Sophocles foreshadows Oedipus’ future using the motif of sight and blindness through prophecies and…
“The Things They Carried”- People are inclined to display a confident image of themselves because they fear that if they do not, others will see them as weak. Device Concrete Detail Commentary Personification of intangibles to represent the true burdens of war “They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could…
tragedy must have the central character with the particular "tragic flaw" (Aristotle's term "harmartia" is often used). The central character or protagonist, usually called a tragic hero, is a person of…
John automatically denies that his name is not going to be thrown away by one tragic flaw. Proctor knows that if this is seen by the town his guilt is just going to double in value and overwhelm him. He finally has to respect himself and trust in himself that he is a good man. He also doesn’t want his wrong doings to make Elizabeth…
The Pardoner’s Words: Life as a Game for the Craftiest and Blind to the Slowest While the Pardoner of Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem The Canterbury Tales, is undoubtedly a prime model of hypocrisy and evil intent, and his ability to survive on earth as an aberration of all norms shows that the norms leaves the travelers, and people in general, open to folly and sin. Chaucer appears to be inspired by the Fals Semblant character of the famous poem Roman de la Rose by Guillaume de Lorris, another…
The definition of a tragedy in Greek writing is “a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character”. Antigone, a play written by Sophocles is a tragedy of wicked justice and brave rebellion, a reflection of the mind. Each character represents a different facet of the human persona. Some hold onto their beliefs with pride and stubbornness that cuts deep within their heart without any consideration of others, some have…
In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare demonstrates that without self-awareness, you cannot be successful in your endeavours. Discuss. William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice validates that without truly knowing oneself, being successful is an impossible task. Most characters, depending on their level of self-awareness, are either prosperous or not, supporting the contention thoroughly. Morocco and Arragon, potential suitors for Portia, are tremendously unsuccessful in their endeavour to…
Fate is the development of events beyond a person's control, as determined by a supernatural power. Two young lovers were destined with a fate that caused a terrible end to their lives, and with their destiny they brought death to the ones around them. In the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, two teenagers from feuding families hide their forbidden love. After Romeo and Juliet marry in secret, Romeo is banished for taking the life of Juliet’s cousin, and a new man had been arranged…